Cape Town: Delhi Daredevils held on to their nerves to beat Perth Scorchers in a crucial group A encounter of their Champions League T20 to keep their semifinals hopes alive here on Sunday.
Bowling first Delhi restricted their opponents to a meagre 121 thanks to some disciplined all-round bowling performance. It looked an easy ask for the Daredevils but they made a heavy weather out of it and required some last minute heroics by Ajit Agarkar and Pawan Negi to win the thriller.
The win now has taken them to 10 points and they are the only Indian side to stay in the hunt. Under fire Virender Sehwag scored well composed half century (52, 44bm four boundaries and a six) to lead the Daredevils charge.
Delhi coming out to chase never could get going against the Scorchers’ bowlers and lost wickets at regular intervals. Sehwag who otherwise is often found guilty playing some rash shots played an anchor’s role.
Even though they kept losing wickets, the fact that Sehwag was still at the crease was a factor that the Scorchers could never put any pressure on Daredevils. But the whole complexion of the match changed in the 16th over when Nathan Rimmington removed Irfan Pathan and Virender Sehwag to reduce Delhi to 96-6 from 94-4.
Naman Ojha followed shortly after Sehwag leaving Delhi in a precarious situation. It was then Agarkar and Negi who took onus upon them and some brave batting down the order saw them reach the target with three balls to spare.
Agarkar scored 11 off seven deliveries including couple of boundaries while Negi scored seven laced with a four.
Earlier bowling first, the Delhi Morne Morkel and Ajit Agarkar bowled brilliantly to reduce Perth Scorchers to a low total. Shaun Marsh scored top scored for them with 39 off 41 deliveries including six boundaries while, Simon Katich scored 34 off 33 balls including two fours and a six.
Morne Morkel was the wrecker-in-chief with spell of 3-19, while Agarkar chipped in with 2-14.
Scores:
Kolkata Knight Riders 188 for 5 (Gambhir 44, Das 43*) beat Titans 89 (Balaji 4-19) by 99 runs
By Indian Sports News Network