Delhi off to a flier against Mumbai

NEW DELHI: Openers Virender Sehwag and Mahela Jayawardene gave Delhi Daredevils a strong start against Mumbai Indians in their return-leg Indian Premier League match at Ferozeshah Kotla stadium on Friday.

Watch: Live IPL Streaming | Scorecard

Delhi raced to fifty in just 5.5 overs without losing any wicket.

Earlier, Mumbai skipper Harbhajan Singh won the toss and decided to field against Delhi.

Delhi have made one change, leaving out left-arm spinner Pawan Negi for veteran medium-pacer Ajit Agarkar.

For Mumbai, Aiden Blizzard replaced James Franklin, who is not fully fit for the match. Lasith Malinga returned to boost Mumbai attack.

“Chasing has been Delhi’s strategy, but I don’t mind batting first,” said Delhi skipper Virender Sehwag.

A thrilling victory against Kings XI Punjab in Mohali have provided the much-needed boost to Mumbai but hosts Delhi remain favourites for the match.

With tournament reaching mid-way stage, Sehwag’s men have looked most compact among the nine sides in the fray and the Daredevils will certainly like to consolidate their position as table toppers.

The last time the two teams locked horns at the Wankhede Stadium, Delhi pacers had steamrolled over the ‘Men in Blue’ but that was a match that didn’t feature Sachin Tendulkar.

Both teams had contrasting victories in their previous matches.

While Daredevils romped home courtesy, a typical Sehwag innings against Pune Warriors, Mumbai Indians had to depend on Robin Peterson’s innovations and Piyush Chawla’s profligacy to get their campaign back on track.

Even as Tendulkar’s form in the two matches, since his comeback from finger injury, has been reassuring, Mumbai Indians’ bowling is still a cause of worry with no Lasith Malinga to bowl those menacing toe-crushers at the death.

Skipper Harbhajan Singh’s extended ‘wicket-drought’ has also affected the team very badly. The veteran of 98 Tests and 229 ODIs has managed only one wicket in seven games so far.

The Daredevils, on the other hand, have been pretty consistent throughout.

The Daredevils bowlers have done a commendable job save Pune Warriors game when they were taken apart. And with Virender Sehwag, Kevin Pietersen in good form, it would take a special effort from MI to upset the Daredevils applecart.

Among bowlers, Morne Morkel has proved to be an able leader with 16 wickets, while other pacers in Irfan Pathan and Umesh Yadav have bowled well in patches. The revelation, however, has been their young left-arm spinner Shahbaz Nadeem, who has had a brilliant tournament so far.

Squads:

Delhi Daredevils: Virender Sehwag (captain), Naman Ojha, Kevin Pietersen, Mahela Jayawardene, Ross Taylor, Yogesh Nagar, Irfan Pathan, Morne Morkel, Umesh Yadav, Shahbaz Nadeem, Ajit Agarkar.

Mumbai Indians: Aiden Blizzard, Sachin Tendulkar, Rohit Sharma, Dinesh Karthik, Kieron Pollard, Ambati Rayudu, Harbhajan Singh (captain), Robin Peterson, RP Singh, Lasith Malinga, Rahul Shukla.