Pawan Negi is up-and-coming, yet unheralded, awaiting the big break. In Delhi, he is counted among the few gifted youngsters, but not beyond the local realm. Skipper Virender Sehwag had marked him as a “special” talent and the left-arm spinner responded by playing the leading role in Delhi Daredevils' convincing six-wicket over Rajasthan Royals at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium here on Tuesday.
Blistering start Negi claimed four wickets in a brilliant spell that set up the stage for Daredevils after Rajasthan, electing to bat, had taken off on a blistering note through Ajinkya Rahane and Rahul Dravid's calculated charge. But Rajasthan failed to maintain the momentum and posted a score of 141. It was hardly going to work against an opposition that had Sehwag in absolutely devastating form.
Sehwag made a mockery of the challenge that Rajasthan had in mind. Some astounding shots from the Daredevils captain left the field and the audience in a daze. Bowlers do not feel disheartened when they are clouted by Sehwag. Nothing works against him. Even very good deliveries are pummelled by this amazing strokeplayer, who scored his fifth half century in a row.
Helpless and pitiable was the state of Rajasthan's bowling. If not Sehwag, the bowlers had to contend with Kevin Pietersen, who played some savage shots. A pull off left-arm spinner Brad Hogg was as breathtaking as Sehwag's upper-cut off Pankaj Singh that went sailing into the galleries at third man. Sehwag and Pietersen reduced the chase to a no-contest after Rahane had produced a stirring account of his growing stature earlier.
The eighth win in ten matches helped Daredevils stay at the top of the table with 16 points while Rajasthan, suffering its sixth loss in eight matches, occupied the sixth place. Sublime shots Rahane's off-side play was sublime; so effortless, so controlled, timing being the forte. He prospered on the strength of his cricket shots, rarely across the line. He revelled with his drives, beating the fielders and finding the gaps with disdain.
He forced Sehwag to shuffle the bowlers and the fielders constantly. Five bowlers had been tested in seven overs as Rahane and Dravid excelled in tandem. The rollicking opening stand, first 50 coming in five overs, was dented when Rahane perished to a reverse sweep. Shane Watson played a couple of rousing strokes, and fell to indiscretion. The slump in scoring came after some shrewd thinking by Sehwag, who used the nagging left-arm spin of Negi effectively to ruin the home team's plans of an imposing total.
Negi impresses Negi was the pick of the bowlers. Negi pursued a teasing line and the batsmen adopted unwise tactics by trying to heave him. Negi cleverly mixed his deliveries and grew in confidence after his first strike. Negi made a big impact with the wicket of Watson, who had warmed up with a well-clobbered six. Brad Hodge finding Sehwag at point was a well-executed plan by Negi and his captain.
When Ashok Menaria skied the ball in a desperate heave, Negi had reaped a rich reward that should boost his confidence in the forthcoming matches. By picking Negi ahead of Ajit Agarkar, the Daredevils think tank had obviously read the pitch well. It reflected in the thumping victory.
Scoreboard Rajasthan Royals: R. Dravid b M. Morkel 57 (43b, 7x4), A. Rahane c Sehwag b Negi 42 (32b, 7x4), S. Watson b Negi 8 (9b, 1x6), O. Shah c Ojha b Umesh 1 (3b), B. Hodge c Sehwag b Negi 1 (2b), A. Menaria c Pietersen b Negi 2 (4b), S. Goswami (not out) 18 (21b, 1x4), A. Chavan (not out) 7 (6b, 1x4); Extras (lb-2, w-3): 5; Total (for six wkts. in 20 overs): 141.
Fall of wickets: 1-71 (Rahane), 2-87 (Watson), 3-90 (Shah), 4-93 (Hodge), 5-95 (Menaria), 6-128 (Dravid). Delhi Daredevils bowling: Irfan 2-0-22-0, Umesh 4-0-28-1, M. Morkel 4-0-23-1, Nadeem 4-0-33-0, Negi 4-0-18-4, Sehwag 2-0-15-0. Delhi Daredevils: M. Jayawardene lbw b Chavan 0 (3b), V. Sehwag c Dravid b Hogg 73 (38b, 12x4, 1x6), K. Pietersen c Shah b Watson 36 (34b, 3x4, 1x6), R. Taylor c Goswami b Hogg 6 (5b, 1x4), Y. Nagar (not out) 9 (9b, 1x4), N. Ojha (not out) 11 (3b, 1x4, 1x6); Extras (b-5, lb3, w-1): 9; Total (for four wkts. in 15.2overs): 144. Fall of wickets: 1-0 (Jayawardene), 2-96 (Pietersen), 3-106 (Taylor), 4-131 (Sehwag). Rajasthan bowling: Chavan 4-0-29-1, Pankaj 2-0-24-0, Watson 4-0-29-1, Amit Singh 1-0-12-0, Hogg 4-0-32-2, Menaria 0.2-0-10-0.
