Bangalore give Delhi taste of their own medicine

You have come to associate and expect clinical performance in matches featuring the DLF Indian Premier League table leaders Delhi Daredevils. On Tuesday, however, Delhi Daredevils were treated to a dose of their own medicine by Royal Challengers Bangalore, who took a confident step toward semifinal qualification, at the Wanderers here.

The seven-wicket win catapulted Royal Challengers Bangalore to the fourth spot in the league table behind Delhi (18 points), Chennai Super Kings (15) and Deccan Chargers (14). Of course, Royal Challengers Bangalore also have 14 points but are fourth with an inferior net run rate. But they are ahead of Kings XI Punjab (14 points) and Rajasthan Royals (13 points).

On a day when Delhi Daredevils rested their lead performers like Tillekeratne Dilshan, Amit Mishra and Dirk Nannes, Royal Challengers Bangalore new ball bowler Praveen Kumar inflicted another failure on skipper Virender Sehwag by having him caught at square-leg in the first over. Praveen Kumar then surprised Mithin Manhas with a slow bouncer and got him out too.

Jacques Kallis bowled his four overs on the trot very economically and picked up Gautam Gambhir's wicket and Anil Kumble turned another great effort with the ball. Without Dilshan’s inspirational presence - and with AB de Villiers playing more aggressively than usual, it was clear that Delhi Daredevils' lower middle-order would come under scrutiny for the first time.

And that did not come through well as the side made 134 for seven, at least 20 runs below par. It meant that the table toppers would have to take early wickets and have their spinners, especially Daniel Vettori be on top of their game, Ashish Nehra did scalp Robin Uthappa in his first over to inject excitement but Kallis and Rahul Dravid and then Ross Taylor took the game away.

Kallis made 58 not out (56 balls, two fours, two sixes) and Dravid 38 (34 balls, four fours) in sharing a 70-run stand while it was Taylor’s big hitting fetched him 25 runs off 12 balls (one four, three sixes) that spurred Royal Challenger Bangalore towards such a facile win that has usually been the prerogative of Delhi Daredevils.

The fact that Royal Challengers Bangalore had one over to spare helped them improve their net run rate to -0.253, better than Kings XI Punjab's -0.423 but both are behind Deccan Chargers’ NRR of +0.265. That has left Kings XI Punjab with no option but to beat Chennai Super Kings in the final match to edge ahead in the semifinal race.