Daredevils dethrone Kings

Delhi march to the top after eight-wicket win

Last updated: 2nd May 2008

Virender Sehwag

Sehwag: Quick-fire 71

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Virender Sehwag smashed a 41-ball 71 to inspire Delhi Daredevils to an eight-wicket win over Chennai Super Kings at the M.A.Chidambaram Stadium.

The defeat for the Kings was their first of the competition and as a result sees Delhi leapfrog them at the top of the IPL table.

The Daredevils were set a target of 170 to win and the aggressive Sehwag was quickly into his stride as he and Gautam Gambhir (50) tore into Makhaya Ntini and Manpreet Gony.

Delhi feast

Sehwag eventually perished in the 12th over when he was caught well by Muttiah Muralitharan off the bowling of Joginder Sharma, however the damage had already been done.

Gambhir carried on his impressive start to the tournament - recording back-to-back half centuries as Delhi feasted on the Chennai bowling.

The Super Kings managed to quell the Daredevils' run rate after Gambhir was dismissed by Gony, however the introduction of AB De Villiers (26) to the crease ensured Delhi reached their target with six balls in hand.

Kings target

Chennai had earlier made 169-6 after captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni had won the toss and elected to bat.

S Vidyut struck his first half century of the tournament off 37 balls to inject some much needed penetration into the Kings' innings after Stephen Fleming (13) had earlier succumbed to youngster Yo Mahesh.

Fellow opener Parthiv Patel (21) survived two dropped catches before being caught at third man by Mahesh after slashing at a Sehwag delivery.

Glenn McGrath (1-21) was at his metronomical best and he claimed the crucial wicket of Vidyut before Dhoni was dismissed by Mohammed Asif for 32.

With wickets in hand in the final overs Chennai attempted a late flourish - Albie Morkel made a brisk 28 off just 16 balls to keep the score moving, but in the end the total proved to be well within Delhi's reach.