Karthik lifts Delhi to 173

Deccan Chargers v Delhi Daredevils, IPL, Durban

The Bulletin by Shwe Wai

Delhi Daredevils 173 for 7 (Karthik 44*, de Villiers 44, Ojha 2-26) Deccan Chargers
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How they were out

	Karthik scored 44 off 23 to take Delhi to 173

Deccan Chargers checked into second-chance saloon today, but unlike his more illustrious team-mates Dinesh Karthik didn't provide them with any opportunities, and carried Delhi Daredevils to a challenging total. Deccan dropped three catches from three destructive batsmen, got away completely with one, and although Tillakaratne Dilshan played a flashy cameo and AB de Villiers managed a responsible 44, they looked like keeping Delhi to a manageable total.

Enter Karthik, who smote an unbeaten 23-ball 44, and 43 came off the last three overs. Karthik played proper cricketing shots, choosing to go mostly over extra cover and midwicket, and hurting Chaminda Vaas the most. The last over of the innings bowled by Vaas included two dot balls, and yet went for 23, comprising two huge sixes and a delightful boundary over extra cover.

It was surprising that the impetus to the Delhi innings came from Karthik. With Virender Sehwag back, the batting line-up looked imposing, and Adam Gilchrist chose to take the bull by the horns by sending Delhi in. His bowlers responded to the call, Vaas getting David Warner in his first over (Sehwag batted at No. 5) with a slower offcutter. RP Singh could have extended his lead as the holder of the purple cap when he got Dilshan to lob one straight to Rohit Sharma at gully. Straight out it came, and Dilshan punished Deccan after that.

Shoaib Maqsusi was the victim, bowling inside the Powerplay, as Dilshan scooped him for a four and a six in consecutive deliveries. He managed two more boundaries down the ground in what was tied with the most expensive over of the tournament, at 24 runs.

Thanks to Dilshan, Delhi moved to 56 for 1 by the end of the Powerplays. Dilshan was responsible for 37 of them, and only three of them were run. Andrew Symonds ended the carnage when he got Dilshan in the seventh over, and with Gautam Gambhir and de Villiers looking to consolidate some respite followed. Pragyan Ojha came on and provided Deccan with another wicket when Gambhir looked to open his arms in the 10th over. Things would have been even better for them had Ravi Teja caught de Villiers at the wide long-on boundary when he was just 7.

Sehwag looked as out of touch as he has looked through the tournament, and was dropped by Symonds first ball. It didn't prove too costly as he presented Symonds with another opportunity, soon after hitting the first boundary for Delhi in 29 balls. From 56 for 1 in six overs, Delhi had slowed to 103 for 4 in 14 when de Villiers started to hurt Deccan.