IPL 2012: Sehwag Imperious As Delhi Thump Rajasthan

IPL 2012: Sehwag Imperious As Delhi Thump Rajasthan

Virender Sehwag produced a stunning innings to drive Delhi to a commanding victory over the Rajasthan Royals

©REUTERS / Action Images

Delhi Daredevils 144-4 (Sehwag 73) beat
Rajasthan Royals 141-6 by six wickets
Indian Premier League 2012, Jaipur
Scorecard

Delhi Daredevils captain Virender Sehwag smashed a 20-ball half-century as the Delhi Daredevils thrashed the Rajasthan Royals by six wickets in Jaipur.

Sehwag smacked 73 in 38 balls to once again establish a three-point lead for the Daredevils at the top of the Indian Premier League 2012 table.

After winning the toss, Rajasthan got off to the perfect start as openers Rahul Dravid and Ajinkya Rahane tore into the Delhi bowling and raced to 56 without loss in the first six overs.

Rahane took the lead role with a flurry of boundaries and the pair put on 72 before Pawan Negi ended their stand by having Rahane caught by Virender Sehwag for 42 in 32 balls.

Dravid went on to make 57 in 43 balls, with seven fours, before he was bowled by Morne Morkel, and that precipitated an alarming collapse.

Negi struck again to remove Shane Watson for eight, Brad Hodge for one and Ashok Menaria for two while Umesh Yadav had Owais Shah (1) caught by Naman Ojha.

The Royals slumped from 87 for one to 128 for six and Negi returned figures of four for 18 from his four overs.

Delhi then lost Mahela Jayawardene without a run on the board when the Sri Lankan captain was trapped in front by Ankeet Chavan but they did not let that early setback affect them.

Virender Sehwag created history by hitting his fifth half-century in as many innings, unfurling an array of blistering strokes to rapidly shift the game away from the Royals.

Kevin Pietersen marked his final game before returning to England by hitting a brisk 36 in 33 balls before he took on one shot too many and was caught by compatriot Shah off Shane Watson - making his first appearance of the season.

Ross Taylor failed to make any real impact against one of his former teams, top-edging Brad Hogg straight up in the air to be easily caught by Ojha behind the stumps for six.

Sehwag needed just 20 balls to reach his half-century and barely checked his progress despite Delhi losing wickets at the other end.

He finally fell when he cut Hogg to Dravid at point having made a quite magnificent 73 in just 38 balls with 12 fours and one six.

The game by then was all but finished, and Ojha hurried the away side over the line with an unbeaten 11 in three balls.

© Cricket World 2012