Sehwag shines as Delhi open IPL account

Team registers first win of season; beat Mumbai by nine wickets.

Virender Sehwag thumped an unbeaten 95 to steer Delhi Daredevils to an emphatic nine-wicket win over Mumbai Indians in the Indian Premier League (IPL) yesterday, according to ESPNcricinfo.

The Indian batsman was ably supported skipper Mahela Jayawardene’s classy 59 as the duo posted a 151-run opening stand in the team’s chase of 162. The win helped Delhi break the jinx of six straight defeats and opened their account in this year’s IPL.

Earlier, Mumbai Indians had scored a formidable 161 for four but man-of-the-match Sehwag, who scored 95 off just 57 balls including 13 fours and two sixes, along with Jayawardene, made the run-chase look easy.

“When I’m batting well, I try to control the match,” he said. “Viv Richards also spoke about bluffing, he said even if a batsman feels scared inside he should show that he is confident and that is what I did.”

Jayawardene was ecstatic with his team’s performance.

“The guys have shown plenty of character,” said the Sri Lankan. “Sehwag was unbelievable. It was good to watch him from the non-striker’s end. But we can still improve. 161 was a competitive score and we needed a good start that set the platform.”

Meanwhile, Mumbai captain Ricky Ponting was left stunned by Sehwag’s blitz.

“I’m not sure [what happened there],” he said. “I thought 161 was going to be a competitive total. Our lines and lengths were way off. They had the momentum in the first six overs. Sehwag and Mahela were outstanding. They were too good for us.”

Published in The Express Tribune, April 22^nd, 2013.