Page 144 - IPL 2

The top batting order was solid as a rock. Indian The batting coming good did not surprise
opening combination and best friends Gautam anyone, but the bowling was the true revelation

Gambhir and Virender Sehwag at the top. If of the 5 weeks in South Africa. Nehra chose
you managed to get them out without them the tournament to announce his comeback to

knocking the shine off the ball and the smile off big time cricket. His 19 wickets were the third
your faces, you’d bump into AB De Villiers and highest in the tournament, with only Kumble

Tillekratne Dilshan, both foreign recruits who and Purple cap winner RP Singh getting more.
couldn’t seem to put a foot wrong. Case in point Factor in that both played three games each

being their second game, which was against more than Nehra played and the statistics
Dhoni’s Super Kings. Viru and Gauti back in the tell a sweeter story for him. With Nannes

dugout with the team score in single digits. AB and Pradeep Sangwan getting 15 each, this
and Dilshan in the middle, with a mammoth left arm pace attack left more than a few top

build up job ahead of them. They put on their orders in disarray!
hard hats and took a jackhammer to the bowling.

AB’s century, one of the best in the tournament There was a no fuss approach to them in the
took the Daredevils near the 200 mark and tournament. There was never any ego tussle,

sealed the game. Right after them was the no back room tension, and no controversy. They
underrated Dinesh Karthik. When Sehwag got a were a tabloid’s nightmare, but a franchise
niggle, David Warner stepped in to face the new owner’s dream.

ball. David was a Goliath with the bat, wielding

it like a battle-axe - almost a pocket edition of The Daredevils looked like a sure shot to getting
his compatriot Matt Hayden. With the batting their hands on the beautiful diamond studded
department so strong, it was the bowling at the trophy. It looked on course, till they ran into that

start of the tournament looked weak, and not man called Gilchrist. There’s Christ in his name,
just in comparison. Which is the thought I had and there was God in his game. The semi final

that morning in the lounge. No one would be became a stumbling block for the second year
losing any sleep over the Dutch fast bowler Dirk in a row. But what could they do? For they were

Nannes and Nehra had been flirting with injury. felled by an innings that can only be described
The only danger was Vettori, a wily miser in this as an act of god. And as the good book teaches

format of the game, but the 4 foreign player cap us - the devil is no match for God’s magnificent
may not let him play. fury, not even if you’re a Daredevil.
brett lee
DELHI DAREDEVILS 133
132 DELHI DAREDEVILS gautam gambhir & virender sehwag