The Table Topper DD Again Makes a wonder by winning over RR

What can you do but watch in wonder, or despair, when an opening batsman smashes 73 in 38 balls in a chase of 142? What can you do when, despite all possible measures of control in place, runs arrive in a torrent of big hits? The kind of form and intent that Virender Sehwag is in, the opposition may as well buy passes to the viewers’ enclosure and spare themselves the ordeal of humiliation.

On Tuesday night, Sehwag rattled up his fifth successive IPL-V half-century to deliver Delhi Daredevils their eighth win from 10 matches this season, as they vanquished Rajasthan Royals by six wickets with 28 balls to spare at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium here. Sehwag’s feverish striking and Man-of-the-match Pawan Negi’s four for 18 helped Delhi consolidate their position at the top of the point table, a place in the last four now a near certainty. For Royals this was their fourth consecutive defeat.

Pietersen’s season-ending 36 (the English superstar leaves the IPL hoopla in favour of Test duty against the West Indies) and the 96 he added with his devil-may-care skipper took Delhi to the brink of victory, whence the likely result was realised without a stutter – despite Sehwag holing out to Brad Hogg 11 runs short of the target. But if Sehwag played an important hand, so did young left-arm spinner Negi.

After being hoodwinked in the chase at the Feroz Shah Kotla a few days ago, Dravid chose to bat first in the return fixture, and the decision almost paid off as the captain and the in-form Ajinkya Rahane drove the home team to a strong start.

Dravid (57) and Rahane added 71 in under nine overs, before Negi added his own twist to proceedings. The left-armer - Ajit Agarkar’s replacement in the side - stalled Rajasthan when they were looking to take off from the initial platform. Negi came on when Royals were cruising on 56 for no loss at the end of the
Powerplay, and left the visiting side in tatters – on 93 for five after 13 overs.

The 19-year-old lured Rahane (42) into a reverse hit that ended with Sehwag at point. In came Shane Watson – for his first game of the season – and clouted Shahbaz Nadeem for six, before losing his off-stump to Negi. In his final over, Negi claimed two more victims - Brad Hodge and Ashok Menaria – ending with figures of four for 18.

But Royals were struggling to get a move on even before this double-wicket burst, as an implossion to the tune of five wickets for 24 runs cost them dear. All this while, Dravid held strong, bringing up his fifty in 35 balls, but finally giving his wicket away when he played Morkel on to his stumps. No matter that - the mood Sehwag was in even 30 more runs wouldn’t have brought Rajasthan their desired result.