Deccan Chargers Momentum Halted By the Delhi Daredevils

The Delhi Daredevils sealed a dramatic comeback victory against the Deccan Chargers, remain top of the 2009 IPL standings.

Delhi have been tipped by man to go all the way in this years event, but it looked for much of the match as though it would be that Hyderabad based franchise that would emerge victorious and therefore top the table.

The Daredevils looked set to post a total of around 160, due to some accurate bowling from the Chargers. But Dinesh Karthick smashed the last over of the Daredevils, innings bowled by the Sri Lankan left arm bowler for 23 runs, to propel the Daredevils to an imposing total of 173.

Adam Gilchrist gave the Chargers the perfect start to their reply, taking 18 runs off the first over bowled by Ashish Nehra with three exquisitely time cover drives, even though two wickets feel at the other end, Gilchrist continued his onslaught and reached his half century in the eight over of the innings, the Chargers were 83-2 after 10 overs and seemed on course for a comfortable victory.

As has so often been the case in this years, tournament a wicket was lost in the first over after the strategy break and unfortunately for the Chargers it was the crucial wicket of their skipper Gilchrist for a brilliantly made 61. The opening batsman inside edged a ball from the young Pradeep Sangwan and lost his off pole.

Andrew Symmonds replaced Gilchrist at the wicket, and he was straight away into his stride smashing two sixes over midwicket, and two fours over point, Symmonds reached 40 in double quick time, and with 25 runs needed from 20 ball with 6 wickets in hand the Chargers were cruising home.

However just as the match appeared to be over, Raja Bhatia came on and bowled Symmonds who was playing down the wrong line, and then two balls later, he did the same to Dwayne Smith, who has been one of the most explosive batsmen of the tournament.

This threw the game wide open, but the Chargers were never able to recover from that double, blow, and in the end Bhatia picked up four wickets and the Daredevils emerged victorious by 12 runs.

This victory will give Delhi further belief that 2009 will be the year that they lift the IPL trophy, after all they seemed dead and buried with just three overs left tin the contest.

As for Deccan, it is the second time in a week that they have managed to lose a game from a seemingly unassailable position they still have a great chabce of qualifying for the Semis but they will need to re group quickly if they are to make the last four of this lucrative event.