DECCAN CHARGERS BEAT DELHI BY 6 WICKETS IN THE FIRST SEMI FINAL OF IPL-09

DECCAN CHARGERS BEAT DELHI BY 6 WICKETS IN THE SEMI FINAL OF IPL-09


Gilly will always perform in Semi Finals and Finals. He will single handedly demoralize every opponents with his blitzkrieg style of batting. Attacking is the best strategy always employed by this wonderful wicket keeper. When Gilchrist is in such a form, any target will not be an uphill task for his team. In the semifinal match against Delhi, Gilchrist won the toss and surprisingly he elected to field first. But Delhi’s batting collapsed in the first over bowled by Ryan Harris. Both the openers went for a duck in the first over and the score board at that time was 0/2.

Any other team takes time to recover from such a sudden collapse. But Delhi’s’ strength, i.e. batting helped them in this game also. Sehwag and Dilshan were in attacking mood. Both played good cricketing shots and helped Devils to score 153 runs in the stipulated 20 overs. Sehwag (39 from 31 balls, 5 Fours) Dilshan (65 runs, 51 balls, 7 fours, 1 six) De Villiers (26 runs, 2 sixes) are the top performers for Delhi. Though Delhi scored above 80 runs in the 10 overs, they couldn’t perform well in the slog overs. Ryan Harris, whose inclusion at the cost of Dwayne Smith had been questioned by some, was the stand-out bowler returning figures of 4-1-27-3.

Gilchirst started the chasing in style by hitting 5 fours in the first over of the match which is bowled by Delhi’s strike bowler Dirk Nannes. Gibbs again went for a duck in the second over bowled by Nehra. Then Gilly fired and scored 85 runs from 35 balls with 10 fours and 5 sixes. In that innings, he reached the fastest half-century in the IPL (in both seasons), getting there in just 17 balls.

After the dismissal of Gilchrist in the 10th over, Symonds played a crucial innings. He scored 24 runs from 15 balls. Then Thirumalsetti suman and Rohit Sarma guided Deccan chargers to a comfortable victory.

Delhi was left to ponder on some of their decisions, most notable among them being the non-inclusion of Glenn McGrath for a single match.

Man of the Match: Adam Gilchrist