Sport

An easy opener for Delhi Daredevils

— Photo: Rajeev Bhatt

YOU ARE OUT: Delhi Daredevils’ Rajat Bhatia signals the end of Rajasthan Royals’ Mahesh Rawat’s innings.

NEW DELHI: Glenn McGrath’s spell set the trend on a dull night at the Ferozeshah Kotla as Delhi Daredevils thrashed Rajasthan Royals in a match that rarely rose above mediocrity. The contest lacked the flavour and pace of the Indian Premier League matches elsewhere when the batsmen dictated terms to produce a torrent of runs.

An encouraging turnout heralded floodlit cricket at the Kotla even as Bollywood star and Delhi Daredeviles brand ambassador Akshay Kumar made a dramatic appearance when he came sliding down a cable stretched across the ground. He could not complete the distance though. The acrobats and some cycling stunts caught the attention of the spectators but the occasion lacked the aura associated with a carnival.

There was neither entertainment nor cricket at the Kotla, much to the chagrin of the audience. Long spells of inactivity on the field was hardly the kind of advertisement the organisers would have expected even though the home team made a remarkable start to the IPL. The result, an overwhelming victory for Delhi Daredevils, was on expected lines given the depleted strength of Rajasthan Royals.

McGrath taught the young Kohli a lesson or two as the youngster, with a good showing in the recent under-19 World Cup, groped around. There was a message in McGrath’s performance — there is room for even veterans in this newest version of the game.

The fare did not quite match the hype as Rajasthan carried its dismal first-class record of the season to the field on Saturday night and came a cropper.

McGrath slipped into his role with the ease that marked his bowling in an illustrious career. His corridor ball is the stuff of legends and there was ample evidence of it on a night when Rajat Bhatia, a regular performer for Delhi, enjoyed his share of glory by coming up with a nagging spell.

Rajasthan Royals suffered some early blows and never recovered from the loss of Shane Watson, who alone looked capable of setting up a fight.

The fireworks tonight were restricted to those at the inauguration as the ball ruled over the bat. Rajasthan did not have the names to make a match of it. The batting was an eyesore and the innings on the whole quite forgettable.

For the paying public it must have been hugely disappointing, not to forget the organisers who, in hindsight, would have been better off had the Delhi Daredevils batted first.

There was plenty to cheer for the spectators when Gautam Gambhir and Shikhar Dhawan overcame the early loss of Virender Sehwag. The home team was a clear winner on a night that belonged to Gambhir, his shots carrying a warning for the bowlers in the matches to come.

The scores: Rajasthan Royals: T. Kohli c Manhas b McGrath 7, Y. Pathan (run out) 10, S. Watson (run out) 21, M. Kaif c Geeves b Bhatia 9, D. Lehmann lbw b Maharoof 1, R. Jadeja b Vettori 29, M. Rawat b Bhatia 2, D. Salunkhe (not out) 26, S. Warne b Maharoof 14, S. Trivedi (not out) 3; Extras: (b-1, lb-3, w-3) 7; Total: (for eight wkts in 20 overs) 129.

Fall of wickets: 1-17, 2-27, 3-41, 4-47, 5-57, 6-71, 7-93, 8-110.

Delhi Daredevils bowling: McGrath 4-1-21-1, Geeves 4-0-41-0, Maharoof 4-0-11-2, Bhatia 4-0-17-2, Vettori 4-0-35-1.

Delhi: V. Sehwag b Watson 12, G. Gambhir (not out) 58, S. Dhawan (not out) 52, Extras (w-10) 10, Total (for one wkt in 15.1 overs) 132.

Fall of wicket: 1-20.

Rajasthan Royals bowling: Munaf 3-0-25-0, Watson 4-0-31-1, Trivedi 3-0-32-0, Warne 2-0-16-0, Yusuf 2.1-0-17-0, Salunkhe 1-0-11-0.

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