Low scores,high drama

A total of 225 runs in almost 39 overs may not really have the ring of an entertaining affair in a T20 scenario.

A total of 225 runs in almost 39 overs may not really have the ring of an entertaining affair in a T20 scenario. But despite the intermittent run drizzle,Chennai Super Kings and Delhi Daredevils managed to dish out a low-scoring yet enthralling cricketing contest at the MA Chidambaram Stadium.

While it was a trio of left-arm pacemenDirk Nannes,Ashish Nehra and Doug Bollingerwho provided some added steam for their teams on an extremely hot night in Chennai; it was Delhi skipper Gautam Gambhir who kept his cool to sneak his team home,and more importantly,to third place in the IPL table in the end on Thursday.

Mahendra Singh Dhoni had noted after electing to bat that the pitch seemed harder than usual and would have something in it for the fast bowlers. And it didnt take too long for the Chennai skipper,to confirm his observation,as he fell to a meek pull shot off a quick bouncer from Nannes for a two-ball duck. While Nehra ended up executing the real damage at the other end by getting rid off the out-of-form Matthew Hayden and the very in-form Murali Vijay,it was Nannes who really set the tone with an incisive first spell,where he also had Hayden dropped in the first over.

Incidentally,with Nehra having been unavailable for Delhis first 10 games due to injury,this was the first time that the Daredevils had gone in with their first-choice pace attack. And by reducing the mighty Chennai batting line-up to 23 for three,the pair demonstrated what Gambhir & Co had been missing out on during their absence.

While the second edition of the IPL last year proved to be just another platform for the late-blooming Nannes to exhibit his skills; it was through his consistent performances in South Africa that Nehra had won his place back in the Indian team. And the 30-year-old lanky fast bowler from Delhi finished up with impressive figures of 3/26.

But if Chennai did manage to even go past the 100-run mark,it was mainly a result of a late cameo from the increasingly popular Bollinger,who also hit the only six of the innings.

Maybe not as multi-faceted as his countryman Nannesbut the 28-year-old Bollinger has been a charismatic performer at the international level ever since he burst onto the scene last year. Though only picked up mid-way by the Super Kings as a replacement for the injured Jacob Oram,the New South Welshmen has made an immediate impact in the IPL.

Story continues below this ad

And Bollingerbacked by a capacity crowdput any thoughts of a runaway win for Delhi to rest,getting rid off Virender Sehwag and Tillakaratane Dilshan in his very first over. Reduced to 6/3,the Daredevils crawled their way back in to the contest thanks largely to Gambhirs unbeaten 56-ball 57.