Gilchrist inspires Deccan to a huge win by CricketArchive Staff Reporter

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Ground:	Centurion Park, Centurion
Scorecard:	Deccan Chargers v Delhi Daredevils
Player:	TM Dilshan, AC Gilchrist, RJ Harris, A Mishra
Event:	Indian Premier League 2009

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DateLine: 22nd May 2009

 

It was a sensational and brutal attack from the former Australian international Adam Gilchrist that decimated a bowling attack which till then was considered to be on of the best in the tournament. Gilchrist struck the fastest half-century in the IPL and was looking good for a century when an over-ambitious shot ended the innings. Delhi had set a challenging total of 154 runs in 20 overs but with the way Gilchrist batted it was just a walk in the park for the Chargers as they charged towards the summit clash where they will wait for the winners of the second semi-finals to arrive. Gilchrist won the toss and had no doubt about his decision to field first. The dismissal of Delhi Daredevils' openers in the first over vindicated Adam Gilchrist's decision to field, and it was left to Dilshan carry Delhi from 0 for 2 to 153. Ryan Harris took two wickets in two balls in a maiden opening over. Gautam Gambhir gave a catch to third man, and David Warner cut the next ball straight to backward point.

 

A scoreline of 0 for 2 had little bearing on Dilshan and Sehwag as they set to rebuild the innings which was in shambles and they played aggressive cricket. Sehwag's start wasn't entirely assured - he got a leading edge over point, miscued over mid-on and swiped many to the leg side - but once he got his eye in he played some confident shots in his crucial 39. He preferred to go to the off side, making room to drive, and sent the ball crashing into the advertising boards at deep cover and point on four occasions. Dilshan was later dropped on 30 by Gilchrist off Symonds and then on 58 by Gibbs at long on.

 

Delhi scored 83 in ten overs and Gilchrist turned back to Symonds, who finally broke an 85-run alliance with a straighter one that Sehwag tried to paddle. Deccan regrouped through Symonds and Harmeet Singh initially and Harris and RP Singh thereafter, only allowing Delhi 70 in the last ten overs. Dilshan kept ticking, making room to force the ball square when Gilchrist fortified the leg side. He slowed down in the second half of the innings, unable to find the boundaries easily, and so worked the ball around to see Delhi through to a good total. de Villiers, finally hit a couple sixes in a brisk 26. Dinesh Karthik and Rajat Bhatia could only Deccan did well to take four wickets, including two run outs, in the 20th over that only cost eight.

 

When the Deccan innings resumed Gilchrist was off like a runaway train as he found the boundary ropes five times in the first over the innings of a hapless Nannes. That over set the tone of the innings as Delhi never seemed to recover from that brutal assault. There was some hope when Nehra cleaned up a nervous Gibbs with a pitched up delivery but then it was Gilchrist show all the way. The inexperienced Sangwan was shown how hard life at international cricket can be I his first over. No bowlers were spared and Sehwag was forced to make a change as soon as possible. Dilshan was brought on and he provided some sanity to the proceedings. Encouraged by seeing the control exerted by Dilshan Sehwag brought himself on but ended up with egg on his face as he was taken for 25 runs in his single over.

 

Mishra was introduced into the attack with more of hope rather than expectation from the skipper and he immediately rewarded the skipper’s faith by picking up the wicket of Bilakhia who was stumped. Gilchrist continued in his merry-making ways and then when he went for one shot too many he was caught at short third man off Mishra. The door seemed slightly open for the daredevils to make their dash but then it was firmly shut on their face as Symonds and Suman carried on from where Gilchrist had left to help Deccan Chargers to reach the finals of IPL 2009. Off the bowlers for Delhi, only Mishra escaped from the punishment meted out by Gilchrist and his final analysis read 4-0-19-3.