Before the finals of the 2007 ODI World Cup, Adam Gilchrist shrugged off an average tournament to produce one of the most brutal innings in World Cup history. Today, he came in to another high-pressure knock-out match in good form, and then took batting to another level with a display of power hitting that is unlikely to be matched for some time to come.Hyderabad were looking for a fairytale redemption from last year's lows, Delhi were looking to right last year's wrongs. Both were led by captains who knew only one way to play: attack.That faculty was on display right from the start of the first semi-final of the second edition of the IPL.
Gilchrist won the toss and elected to bowl, Sehwag said he'd have been happy to bat. Gilchrist then threw the ball to Ryan Harris for a dream first over for Hyderabad. Harris bowled a double-wicket maiden, getting both Gautam Gambhir and David Warner out for ducks. For any other two batsmen walking in, that would have meant a period of cautious consolidation, but the batsmen at the crease were not just any batsmen. Virender Sehwag and Dilshan got together for an 85 run third wicket partnership off 9.4 overs, and pulled out an array of stunning shots. Stunning because they were executed with such panache and because the match situation would have stymied most batsmen - not made them take the aerial route consistently.
Sehwag looked like he was carrying on from his innings against Mumbai, and Dilshan looked as he has done throughout the tournament - a man on top of his game. It was the strategy break that struck once again as it has in such a debilitating fashion all through. At 85 for 2 in 10.3 overs, Sehwag played a nothing shot, trying to paddle the ball to fine leg and was struck in front by Symonds. He had played his part in resurecting the innings with a 31 ball 39, but ideally would have wanted to carry on.His dismissal brought the tried and tested firm of AB de Villiers and Dilshan together, as they set about building the total by knocking the ball in the gaps. Dilshan reached his fify off just 35 balls.However, just when both batsmen looked set to explode, purple cap holder RP Singh did his captain a huge favour by removing AB de Villiers who looked to hit the ball out of the ground, but only got an edge through to Gilchrist.Ryan Harris then came back for his final over to get another big wicket - that of Dinesh Karthik who was bowled off the last ball of the 19th over.The last over saw 8 runs and 3 wickets falling - among them Dilshan who was run out for a superb 65 off 51 balls - and Delhi ended at 153 for 8. It was not a formidable total, but in a pressure match, with Hyderabad batting second, it was competitive.
Ryan Harris, who'se inclusion at the cost of Dwayne Smith had been questioned by some, was the stand-out bowler returning figures of 4-1-27-3.If Hyderabad had a dream start while bowling, they went one better while batting. They needed 7.65 runs per over when they started their innings, but in one over Adam Gilchrist had brought the required rate down to 7.00, smashing Dirk Nannes for 5 consecutive fours in the first over. Ashish Nehra pulled things back a little by castling Gibbs in the next over, but Delhi needed more than just one wicket to put pressure on the powerful Hyderabad batting line-up. That didn't happen however, as Gilchrist was in a murderous mood, and was swatting fours and sixes like there was no tomorrow. He reached the fastest half-century in the IPL (in both seasons), getting there in just 17 balls. After four overs Hyderabad were 56 for 1, and the required rate had come down to just 6.12. In a desperate measure, Sehwag brought himself on to bowl, and was promptly dispatched for 25 runs, including 3 consecutive sixes. With Delhi looking dazed and battered on the field, Amit Mishra came to their rescue, getting the marauding Gilchrist out when he top-edged a a slog sweep into the hands of Dirk Nannes off the last ball of the tenth over. Gilchrist had made 85 off 35 balls, and put Hyderabad in a position of supreme strenght at 102 for 3 at the strategy break, requiring just 52 runs off the next 10 overs.
Hyderabad progressed serenely towards the target, with no repeat of their frequent chokes that marked some close matches in the league phase, and even though Andrew Symonds fell, they were never in any trouble whatsoever. They eventually won by 6 wickets in 17.4 overs - a comprehensive win if there ever was one. For Delhi only Amit Mishra came out honourably returning impressive figures of 4-0-19-3, but on a day that Gilchrist's bat had no edges and only a middle, just one good bowling performance was never going to be enough for Delhi.It was amongst the most remarkable turn-arounds for a team that had looked incapable of winning anything just a year ago. Delhi were left to ponder on some of their decisions, most notable among them being the non-inclusion of Glenn McGrath for a single match. Virender Sehwag would have been thinking about the what-might-have-beens as the league phase toppers crashed out of the semi-finals for the second time in a row.
Turning Point of the Match:
The first overs of either innings. Delhi lost 2 wickets without scoring a run, and Gilchrist hit five consecutive fours - the overs set the tone for how the match panned out.
Man of the Match:
Adam Gilchrist. No contest. one of the most awesome displays of hitting ever seen in an ODI or a T20 - or a Test match for that matter.
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