IPL: Sehwag shows Pune how it’s done

Delhi captain helps register thumping 8-wicket win in IPL.

Virender Sehwag overshadowed the efforts of Manish Pandey and Robin Uthappa to help Delhi Daredevils register a convincing eight-wicket win over Pune Warriors in the IPL.

Sehwag blasted a 48-ball 87, an innings laced with 10 boundaries and three sixes, as Delhi surged past Pune’s modest 147-run total with four overs to spare in a match that saw only four wickets fall in total. Such was Sehwag’s dominance that the explosive Kevin Pietersen could only contribute 27 in an 89-run second-wicket partnership.

The win also helped Delhi’s net run-rate after they recorded their fifth win in seven matches of the ongoing IPL.

Delhi’s innings was also in stark contrast to Pune’s who took their time as they set the modest total. After the dismissal of Jesse Ryder off the second ball of the innings, Saurav Ganguly came and perished with Pune reduced to one for two. Pandey then combined with Uthappa and the two consolidated, adding 145 for the unbroken third wicket but consumed the remaining 130 deliveries in doing so.

While Pandey remained unbeaten on 80, made of 56 deliveries, Uthappa failed to accelerate towards the end and was 60 not out after facing 58 balls. Pune, left ruing a final onslaught that never happened, lost their fourth game after having played eight matches.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 25^th, 2012.