Delhi beat Mumbai, hang at the edge by CricketArchive Staff Reporter

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Scorecard:	Delhi Daredevils v Mumbai Indians
Player:	KD Karthik, ST Jayasuriya, SR Tendulkar, RV Uthappa, GD McGrath, V Sehwag, G Gambhir, VY Mahesh
Event:	Indian Premier League 2007/08

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DateLine: 26th May 2008

 

This was one match that nobody wanted to lose, especially the Delhi DareDevils, because a loss here would have meant that it was the end of Delhi’ chances in the tournament. Well, Delhi just managed to survive by the skin of their teeth, and now the battle for the two spots amongst the three teams has reached its crescendo. Fortunately or unfortunately, Delhi would have no further say in the tournament, because they have finished their league engagements.

 

Coming to today’s match, Delhi was chasing a target of 177 for a win, and although Virender Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir – still the holder of the orange cap – got them off to a good start, the two of them left in quick succession. When Shikhar Dhawan and Tillakratne Dilshan got out off consecutive Dwayne Smith deliveries, it could have been anyone’s match, 88 needed off 55 balls. At this stage, two young men, almost forgotten by everyone – in IPL or otherwise – Manoj Tiwari and Dinesh Karthik got together and stitched together a well made 41 run partnership to bring the Delhi team back in the game. But even after Tiwari’s runout, Karthik remained his attacking self, completed his fifty and then when he got exhausted found an able ally in Farveez Maharoof to see his team through in the last over with one ball to spare!

 

Earlier, Mumbai began well with Sachin Tendulkar and Sanath Jayasuriya, but quick wickets saw them struggle at 114/4 in 14 overs. This included a typically aggressive 42-ball 66 by Jayasuriya. However, Robin Uthappa who has been in a bit of a bad rut, came to the party hitting out an unbeaten 46 in only 23 balls to take the total to 176/8. The brakes that were applied in the middle overs were due to a fine spell of bowling by youngster Yo Mahesh who ended with 4/36 in his four overs.

 

Karthik won the Man-of-the-Match for keeping Delhi’s hopes alive in the tournament.