Sehwag’s thunderstorm diffuses Chargers

Skipper Sehwag slams 119 off just 56 balls to single-handedly lead Delhi to a four-wicket win after Deccan Chargers scored a competitive 175

Sehwag's thunderstorm diffuses Chargers

Skipper Sehwag slams 119 off just 56 balls to single-handedly lead Delhi to a four-wicket win after Deccan Chargers scored a competitive 175

Virender Sehwag played one of the most devastating Twenty20 knocks to help Delhi Daredevils beat Deccan Chargers by four wickets and keep their hopes alive in the Indian Premier League yesterday. Skipper Sehwag, with plenty of help from the butter-fingered Deccan fielders, struck a 56-ball 119 as Delhi overhauled the hosts' daunting total of 175 for five with an over to spare.

Delhi Daredevils' captain Virender Sehwag celebrates his century against
Deccan Chargers at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad
yesterday. (Right) Deccan Chargers' JP Duminy during his 31-ball 55 that
went in vain as Delhi won by four wickets. pics/afp

Sehwag's blitzkrieg contained six sixes and 13 fours. The swashbuckling opener's innings was so dominant that the next highest score for Delhi was James Hopes' unbeaten 17.

Dale Steyn (2-24) and Ishant Sharma (2-16) brought Deccan back into contention with their fearsome fast bowling after Sehwag's dismissal. But the damage had been done by that time.

Sehwag said he was confident of his team's victory even though the target was stiff.

"I always knew that if our openers fire,u00a0 we could chase 180-190. The first six overs were difficult but once we got the momentum, it was possible," he said.

"I knew that if I could stay till 16-17 overs, I can score a hundred and help the team win."

Sehwag gave credit to the excellent pitch conditions.

"It was good to bat on. It had a little bit of grass, and if you bowled at good areas, it was difficult to hit. There was a bit for both bat and bowl," he said.

Earlier, captain Kumar Sangakkara (44) and South African JP Duminy (55) propelled Deccan to a commanding total. The duo put on 71 runs for the fourth wicket to put their team in the driving seat.

With the win, Delhi leaped ahead of Deccan in the points table to seventh place. They have eight points now, as against Deccan's six.

Both have played 10 matches each.