Bangalore: May 20, 2008 -  Powered by a frenzied 90-run partnership in seven overs between openers Virender Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir, Delhi Daredevils overcame a mid-innings stutter, to script a five-wicket victory over Royal Challengers Bangalore in the DLF-Indian Premier League match at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium here on Monday.

Chasing Challengers’ 154, Gambhir (39), the most prolific batsman in the IPL, kept threading his fours, while Sehwag (47) unleashed mayhem, slashing Zaheer and pulling Praveen Kumar.

Sehwag survived but not for long as he smote Praveen straight to Bharath Chipli but by then his 19-ball cameo topped with nine fours and a six, had set his team well on course.

Stutters

The innings then stumbled after Gambhir got run out. Anil Kumble prised out Tillakaratne Dilshan and Dinesh Karthik while Steyn forced A.B. de Villiers to snick but the touch of nerves in the visitors’ dug-out was quickly eased by Shikhar Dhawan.

The southpaw did survive a close call when Kumble’s appeal for a caught and bowled was turned down but in the end, he finished the chase with a flourish, carting B. Akhil into the stands over long-off. Daredevils scored 158 for five in 18.2 overs.

Goswami sparkles

Earlier in the night, Sreevats Goswami’s sparkling 52 and Misbah-ul-Haq’s late flourish (47 n.o., 25b, 2x4, 4x6) helped Challengers inch past the 150-mark. He was later adjudged Man-of-the-Match.

With a brief evening drizzle forcing the covers on prior to the match, Sehwag won the toss and opted to bowl.

Glenn McGrath, bowled a miserly first over conceding a lone run and then watched left-arm seamer Pradeep Sangwan come apart conceding 19 runs. More