Chargers caught in Amit’s web

Reeling under a four-match losing streak, Delhi Daredevils withered the Shahid Afridi storm, rekindling their quest for the semifinal spot with a much-needed 12-run win over Deccan Chargers at the Kotla on Thursday.

The Chargers put up a much-improved show with every player contributing to the total. Chasing 195 to win, the visitors ran them close, courtesy a 14-ball 33 from the Pakistani dasher that included three towering sixes and two sweetly-timed fours.
But in the end, the visitors’ effort just wasn’t enough. Needing 15 runs off the final over, man of the match Amit Mishra (5/12) ensured a smooth finish for the Daredevils with a hat-trick off the first three balls.

The Chargers, who were going on nicely towards the end, lost the momentum in the 19th over when play was stopped for quite a while after an object was thrown on the north-west part of the ground, resulting in an unusually long delay. Venugopala Rao, who was on a roll until then having scored two sixes and three fours in his 17-ball 34, apparently lost focus and was out next ball, trying to loft Glenn McGrath and holing out to substitute fielder Shoaib Malik in the deep. That put paid to the visitors’ hopes.
Earlier, a similar delay had costed the Chargers the wicket of their vice-captain, Rohit Sharma. The in-form batsman was bowled by Fervez Maharoof after making an 18-ball 35, which included three fours and two sixes.

The Chargers started in blazing fashion. Up against his long-time mate Glenn McGrath, Gilly welcomed him with a smashing cover drive in his first over and then took a single to put the dangerous Afridi on strike. Afridi teased the parsimonious veteran with a front-foot defence and then drilled him through the covers.