Delhi stunned by Victoria in opening clash
Delhi Daredevils were beaten both by the low bounce in the wicket and by Victoria in their opening match of the Champions League T20 at the Ferozeshah Kotla. Delhi scored 98 for seven with Dilshan Tillakaratne scoring 18 and Mithun Manhas 25. But Manhas may miss out the tournament due to a suspected hamstring injury suffered while batting.
Delhi Daredevils under new captain Gautam Gambhir lost by seven wickets after failing to cross while batting first.
For Victoria Clint McKay led a devastating seam attack and was adjudged man of the match.
The devil in the pitch was first seen in the third over when a ball from Shane Harwood kept low and Gambhir saw his off stump go cartwheeling. Virender Sehwag attempted to hit his way by smashing boundaries off successive Harwood deliveries, but was superbly caught and bowled by McKay in his first over. McKay followed it up by getting Owais Shah caught behind for a duck.
The Victorian fielders pounced on indecision between Tillakaratne Dilshan and Dinesh Karthik and Cameron White swooped in from cover and threw it back to Andrew McDonald, who took the bails off in a flash to dismiss Karthik.
Dilshan played the anchor role but then McKay got him come him out and removed his off stump. Mithun Manhas tried to make the most of his run-out reprieve, but a suspected hamstring injury hampered him. Harwood dismissed him for 25. McDonald capped off a superb display by dismissing Rajat Bhatia and Pradeep Sangwan in the final over.
While chasing Victorian Rob Quiney smashed Dirk Nannes to the mid-on boundary. Ashish Nehra was hit for a four and a six in his third over. Quiney continued the attack on legspinner Amit Mishra. Mishra persisted and bowled Quiney soon after.
Brad Hodge was sent back by Dilshan two balls later, but with Victoria racing to 55 for 2 in the ninth over.
Even Rajat Bhatia's dismissal of David Hussey did not pull Delhi out of the woods. Aiden Blizzard ended the innings on a high note hitting Bhatia for a six over long-on.
