Kings XI set 123 to win against Daredevils

New Delhi, May 17 (UNI) Delhi Daredevils rode on Virender Sehwag's swashbuckling half century to score 118 for four against Kings XI Punjab amid dust storm and rain in the IPL match at Feroz Shah Kotla here tonight.

In the rain curtailed match that saw the game being interrupted twice, the umpire finally decided to make it 11 overs a side and Kings XI Punjab were set a revised target 123.

Earlier the start was delayed by 20 minutes but Sehwag called the coin right and elected to bat first and made sure that he justifies his decision.

The Daredevils began promisingly and Sehwag's intentions looked dangerous from the word go as he smashed a half-volley from Sreesanth to third-man for six in the first over of the match.

But soon in Sreesanth's next over, Sehwag got a respite from his counterpart when Yuvraj Singh dropped a fairly simple catch at mid-off to mount Sreesanth's woes who seemed struggling bowling wides one after the other.

The first over itself set the tempo for Daredevils but the batsmen did not have to make much of an effort as Sreesanth bowled four wides in it.

India's Twenty20 World Cup star Gautam Gambhir continued his amazing run in the tournament and started his assault on Kings XI bowlers. In search of a wicket, Yuvraj introduced VRV Singh but the two Delhi batsmen greeted him to score 22 runs off his first over.

Gambhir has been in awsome form in the tournament and has scored 465 runs so far and is the proud owner of the 'orange cap' too.

Ramesh Powar, who made his IPL debut in this match, was introduced in the seventh over and he held his captain's trust when he clean bowled Gambhir but not before the left-hander had given his side a great start.

Gambhir put on 75 runs for the opening wicket and scored a flamboyant 40 off 28 balls which was studded with seven hits to the fence but he failed to read a delivery from Powar that went straight between his bat and pad.

Meanwhile, Sehwag took the charge and launched a flurry of sixes as he raced to 47 off just 19 balls with five huge sixes.

Sehwag made sure that he utilised the chance given by Yuvraj and left his did not leave any bowler before the heavens opened and interrupted the match once again.

Daredevils were 94 for one after 8.1 overs and Shikar Dhawan was on one giving company to Sehwag.

When the play resumed the umpires had made it 11 overs a side match.

Dhawan resumed the Daredevils' innings on a good note as he lofted Powar in to the mid-wicket stands and completed the hosts' 100 in just 51 balls.

But Powar gave his side another breakthrough when he induced a false stroke from Dhawan (7) and Piyush Chawla made no mistake to complete a comfortable catch at mid-off.

Sehwag soon completed his 50 with a couple of VRV Singh but the hard-hitting opener was denied strike by Kings XI bowlers.

James Hopes bowled an excellent last over as he took two wickets of Tilekretne Dilshan (8) and Fervez Maharoof (0) to deny the hosts any further advantage. He gave away just three runs in his only over of the match.

Sehwag remained unbeaten on 51 which came off 26 balls.

Powar and Hopes took two wickest each while other Kings XI bowlers struggled against some hard hitting of Sehwag and Gambhir.

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