Tuesday 12th April, 2011 15

flamboyance. No contest The visiting team was indeed the favourite but what must have left a packed house hugely disappointed was the manner in which the host caved in. As a result, the match never rose as a contest. Tendulkar later mentioned that the “slow” playing surface at the Ferozeshah Kotla needed the bats- men to be cautious and a total of 135 could have been a “fighting” one. But Malinga ensured Delhi did not have much to fight with. Twin-blows Malinga twice delivered twin-blows to leave the host gasping. All four vic- Royal Challengers tims were left to survey their shattered Bangalore’s AB De Villiers stumps. In between, he bowled a rare bats during the Indian maiden over to Sehwag. He finished Premier League (IPL) crick- the job by taking his fifth that et match against Kochi also ended Delhi’s innings. Tuskers Kerala in Kochi, The ‘Malinga Show’ commenced India, Saturday, April 9, after Virender Sehwag chose to bat and 2011. (AP Photo/Rajanish put 10 runs on the board off the open- Kakade) ing over from Harbhajan Singh. Minutes after Sehwag got the crowd

Cheerleaders entertain the crowd during an Indian Premier League cricket match between Delhi Daredevils and(AP Photo/SaurabhMumbai Indians Das) in , India, Sunday, April 10, 2011.

going with a long-off six off at deep square leg to reduce the host to 40 for Harbhajan, Malinga struck and struck four, a mismatch clearly looked on cards. BY RAKESH RAO again. The explosive Aussie left-han- The 42-run stand between Naman Ojha NEW DELHI: Lasith Malinga says he der David Warner was yorked. Two and Venugopala Rao raised visions of Delhi aims for the batsmen’s toes and loves deliveries later, young debutant managing a competitive total. However, what to take . On this day, this affa- Unmukt Chand suffered a similar fate followed was a tame surrender. ble Lankan stayed on target. attempting an aggressive stroke. With Ojha holed out to Malinga and Irfan Four times on Monday afternoon, Sehwag still around and looking good, Pathan was run out to the first ball he faced. Pune Warriors’ his toe-crushing yorkers crashed into the packed galleries expected a coun- Malinga returned for his second spell and Jesse Ryder the stumps. The ‘Man-of-the-Match’ terattack. But that was not to be. again struck twice by removing Rao and bats during the also became only the third bowler to After Aaron Finch played to short Morkel, in one over. Indian Premier take five wickets in the Indian fine-leg, Sehwag called for a run but Then Harbhajan had League cricket Premier League while doing his bit to underestimated Tendulkar’s throw. Umesh Yadav . match against Kings XI stop Delhi Daredevils for an embar- The direct-hit to the striker’s end sent Malinga claimed his fifth Punjab in rassing 95. back Sehwag and put wicket by snaring last- Mumbai, India, Mumbai Indians rode on the firmly in command. man Ashok Dinda. Sunday, April shoulders of a calm Sachin Tame surrender (The Hindu) 10, 2011. (AP Tendulkar to complete an easy eight- When Harbhajan had Finch caught Photo/Rajanish wicket victory. Tendulkar, dropped by Kakade) Sehwag on seven off Morne Morkel, finished the chase by reaching 46 in a chase without much flourish and

Mumbai Indians’ co- owner Nita Ambani waves a team flag during an Indian Premier League cricket match against Delhi Daredevils in New Delhi, India, Sunday, April 10, 2011.

(AP Photo/Saurabh Das)

Mumbai Indians’ plays Mumbai Indians’ a shot during Lasith Malinga cele- the Indian Delhi brates after claiming Premier League Daredevils’ Irfan his fourth wicket dur- cricket match Pathan prepares ing the Indian Premier against Delhi to bowl during League cricket match the Indian Daredevils in against Delhi Premier League New Delhi, Daredevils in New cricket match Delhi, India, Sunday, India, Sunday, against Mumbai April 10, 2011. April 10, 2011. (AP Indians, in New Photo/Saurabh Das) (AP Delhi, India, Photo/Saurabh Sunday, April Das) 10, 2011. (AP Photo/Saurabh Das)