Delhi stay alive with big win over Wayamba

- Scorecard: Delhi Daredevils vs Wayamba

Led by blazing half-centuries from Virender Sehwag and Dinesh Karthik, Delhi Daredevils crushed Wayamba Elevens by 50 runs to keep their hopes alive of making it to the Super Eights in a Group D Champions League match in New Delhi, on Sunday.

Electing to bat first, Sehwag smashed 67 off just 42 deliveries, while Karthik too blossomed in the right-hander's company with a breezy 41-ball 61 to propel Delhi Daredevils to a competitive 170 for five.

In reply, Dirk Nannes claimed four for 24 to restrict Wayamba for 120 for seven in their 20 overs despite Mahela Jayawardene's quickfire 53 from 40 deliveries, that was laced with five boundaries and two sixes.

Former Australia paceman Glenn McGrath, playing after a long gap, impressed with his disciplined line and length bowling for figures of two for 20 in his four overs. Leg-spinner Amit Mishra took one for 18 in four overs, that included one maiden.

Victoria top Group D with two points following their opening game victory against Delhi, who now have two points from two games. Following this crushing loss, Wayamba will need to beat Victoria by a big margin on Tuesday to ensure their qualification to the Super Eights league stage.

Earlier, Delhi batsmen took a cue from the New South Wales batsmen and played cautiously without going for big shots in the beginning.

But Sehwag, who showed signs of returning to form in their last outing, opened up and dispatched Ishuru Udana for two back-to-back fours and piled up 15 runs in the fourth over.

Sri Lankan Tillakaratne Dilshan, who opened with Sehwag in place of skipper Gautam Gambhir, then struck Chanaka Welegedara through covers before perishing off the very next delivery, courtesy a sharp catch by Wayamba captain Jehan Mubarak at covers.

It could have been a double disaster for Daredevils had Mubarak managed to hold to Sehwag in the last ball of the fourth over. A flying Wayamba captain got his fingertips to Sehwag's forceful drive through covers, only to see the ball race away to boundary.

Gambhir's ploy of dropping him down the order did not work as Mendis caught him plumb in front of the wicket in his first over.

But Sehwag rode on his luck and after the early burst, paced his innings to perfection. Gambhir's dismissal had no effect on the right-hander's approach as he exploded, hitting Wayamba bowlers to all parts of the ground to notch up his fifty in just 32 balls.

Karthik and Sehwag showed that there was no demon in the pitch as the duo shared 67 runs for the third wicket in just 8.3 overs.

Sehwag's innings finally came to a sad end as he was caught short of the wicket, obliging to Karthik's call for a non-existent single. The Delhi dasher cracked 10 fours and a six during his stay at the crease.

Kathik took up from where Sehwag left as he clobbered Mendis for three consecutive sixes in the 19th over before the mystery spinner took his revenge as he was stumped by Sameera de Zoysa.

Owais Shah (18 off 10) also played a cameo to help Delhi manage a good total.

For Wayamba, mystery spinner Ajantha Mendis and left-arm pacer Chanaka Welegedara were the bowlers to make some impact as they picked up two wickets apiece giving away 24 and 35 runs respectively.