Delhi fizzle out

	Sachin Tendulkar combined grace with power in his classy, match-winning 32-ball 63 (file photo) © Getty Images
Related Links Matches: Delhi Daredevils v Mumbai Indians at Delhi Series/Tournaments: Indian Premier League Teams: Delhi Daredevils | India | Mumbai Indians

Tournament heavyweights Delhi Daredevils crashed to a 98-run defeat against an inspired Mumbai Indians outfit that seemed determined to set the lopsided head-to-head record straight and, in the process, went to the top of the points table. Quickfire sixties from Sachin Tendulkar and Saurabh Tiwary took Mumbai to an imposing 218 but a batting line-up capable of overhauling the biggest of targets was bowled out with more than three overs to spare.

Delhi were already handicapped by the loss of Gautam Gambhir to a hamstring pull early in the match so it was up to the middle order to anchor a big chase. But the loss of a steadying hand in Gambhir showed up as the likes of Virender Sehwag and Tillakaratne Dilshan performed well below expectation. The backup for those heavyweights had little time in which to plot and execute a Yusuf Pathan-like counterattack.

Dilshan began the chase on an audacious note by slapping the first ball over mid-off for four. It was an emphatic way to get off the mark after two consecutive ducks, and Delhi motored along at a rate marginally faster than Mumbai after three overs. Mumbai had to dislodge at least one of the opening duo of Dilshan and Virender Sehwag, and the first breakthrough came through Lasith Malinga in the fourth over. After firing it in the blockhole to keep Dilshan under check, he bowled a slower ball and sent the off stump for a spin as the batsman swished at thin air.

The expectations on Sehwag only increased but he was the first victim of double-strike by Dwayne Bravo in the seventh over. Trying to clear long-off, he made contact off the toe-edge of the bat straight down Ambati Rayudu's throat. Four balls later, AB de Villiers dragged one onto his stumps and the momentum had firmly swung in Mumbai's favour. A flurry of boundaries by Dinesh Karthik - three in a row - raised some hope, but he too joined the exodus, courtesy a brilliant stumping down the leg side by Aditya Tare. When Manhas perished in the tenth over, Delhi had lost half their side, and with Gambhir indisposed, the match had ceased to be a contest.

Match Meter MI Tendulkar fires: Tendulkar tore into Maharoof with consecutive fours to start an eventful fourth over. Jayasuriya's wicket was a blip as Tendulkar belted two more fours to make it 17 for the over, the most expensive of the innings MI Tiwary and Rayudu push on: Tendulkar's departure didn't hurt Mumbai as the overs 13-15 produced a massive 40. Tiwary and Rayudu combined to hit three sixes and a four to lift the run rate to 11 MI Malinga nails countryman Dilshan: The opener looked in ominous form, hitting three boundaries. But he was dismissed in the fourth over for just 17, losing his off stump to a slower ball MI Bravo's double-strike: The seventh over, by Bravo, left Delhi in deep trouble. Sehwag fell off the first ball and four balls later, de Villiers followed. Delhi slipped to 58 for 3 Advantage Honours even

The pitch was nothing like the minefield which forced the abandonment of the one-dayer between India and Sri Lanka a few months ago. Evenly paced, Tendulkar showed just how easy it was to get to the pitch and pick the gaps with deft touches and delicate clips. It was similar to the way he started his innings in Gwalior, where he scored a memorable 200, squirting the ball past the gaps effortlessly.

Farveez Maharoof's one-dimensional bowling - overusing the legcutter - made it easier for Tendulkar to plan his shots. After slicing Maharoof past backward point, he made Delhi pay for not placing a slip as he guided the next ball to third man. He then chipped down the track, got inside the line and played a glorious on drive past midwicket to give Delhi some anxious moments.

He brought up his fifty, off just 23 balls, with a paddle to fine leg. Mishra had Tendulkar caught at long-off by the substitute Yogesh Nagar, who was earlier in the news for pulling off a one-handed blinder at mid-off to get rid of Sanath Jayasuriya. Filling in for Gambhir, Nagar had to propel himself backwards a long way but managed to time his leap to perfection.

Significantly, Tiwary and Rayudu didn't allow things to drift after Tendulkar departed. The over after his dismissal went for just three but the pair ensured they picked at least one boundary in every over during their 71-run stand, in just short of seven overs. If Tendulkar was all nonchalance, Tiwary and Rayudu were all about brute power. Tiwary employed the slog sweep against the spinners, staying in the crease and muscling three sixes. Rayudu used his feet a lot more, regularly chipping down the track to clear the rope. Mishra tried firing it flatter and shorter with the hope of getting the ball to shoot through but the batsmen were alert enough to slap them away.

By the time Delhi dislodged the pair, Mumbai were already on 193 with a little more than two overs left. Promoting Tiwary and Rayudu over the two West Indians - Bravo and Pollard - had proved to be a productive move. The Caribbean duo combined to push the score to 218 - the highest in this tournament so far - which was more than enough to stamp their dominance.

Royals Vs Dare Devils

	Delhi Daredevils had to fight for victory against Punjab, but it'll take some effort to beat them (file photo) © Associated Press
Related Links Matches: Rajasthan Royals v Delhi Daredevils at Ahmedabad Series/Tournaments: Indian Premier League Teams: Delhi Daredevils | Rajasthan Royals

Big Picture

The two teams playing the first ever IPL match in Ahmedabad present a bit of a contrast. The Rajasthan Royals, even though they were champions in 2008, are perennial underdogs and seem comfortable playing that role. They're the team most fans love to support after their own. They possess the tournament's fastest bowler and perhaps its most destructive batsman but, a few overseas players apart, also a bunch of boys who aren't individually threatening. Their captain, formerly the world's greatest legspinner, is now a glamorous poker player, an expert at staying in fashion and the team's chief inspiration. He spearheads Rajasthan's PR on Twitter, engaging in entertaining and sometimes frivolous banter with his mates, and he's fashioned a team in his own image, one that in his own words "plays to entertain".

There aren't any Delhi Daredevils on Twitter, unless they've been hiding in obscurity, apart from Wayne Parnell. Their players aren't darlings of the media, their owner is in infrastructure not Bollywood, and their captain, who's got into trouble more than once for his on-field temper, is sullen compared to his larger-than-life counterpart. Delhi have few frills and a low-key media presence. They are the team that shows up to get the job done, clinically, and the one most opponents will be a little intimidated by, even if they won't admit it. They have their best foreign players available for the whole tournament, their top five in the batting order is unmatched, and their Indian contingent is among the strongest. No matter who they play and where, Delhi are usually favourites.

These two teams, with their different styles, will clash for the first time at Motera, a 48,000 seater, one of four new venues this season. Both contested closely-fought opening games on Saturday: Delhi won theirs in Mohali, Rajasthan fell agonisingly short in a mammoth chase against Mumbai. One loss doesn't ruin a season, but a second in a row will be a little harder to come back from.

Team talk

Graeme Smith, Dimitri Mascarenhas, Shaun Tait and Shane Warne were the four overseas players Rajasthan fielded against Mumbai. Given that their top order struggled, they might consider replacing Mascarenhas and bringing in Damien Martyn or Michael Lumb to bolster the batting. Tait, though he leaked 11.50 runs an over, is likely to play to counter Delhi's powerful top order. Munaf Patel, who was ill ahead of the first game, could also come into the XI if fit. Warne had said they "don't want to change anything in the middle [order] as [Abhishek] Jhunjhunwala and [Paras] Dogra batted beautifully." But with Rajasthan, you never can tell.

Delhi had to do without Ashish Nehra's services against Punjab because of an injury. He could return in place of either Pradeep Sangwan or Yo Mahesh if fit. Another option, which will strengthen a formidable batting line-up, would be for Nehra to replace Farveez Maharoof, who took 2 for 37, while David Warner comes in as the fourth overseas player, instead of Mithun Manhas. That would be unfortunate for Manhas, who made a crucial 31 against Punjab, but a top order comprising Sehwag, Gambhir, Warner, de Villiers and Dilshan, with Karthik to follow, seems too good to pass on. Parnell has joined the Delhi squad after completing domestic duties in South Africa but is unlikely to play.

Previously…

The first contest between these two sides in 2008 was a no-contest, with Delhi cruising to a nine-wicket win with 29 balls to spare. The clash in Jaipur was much closer - Rajasthan won in the last over with three wickets in hand. Rajasthan won the first game between the sides in 2009 by five wickets, but lost the second by 14 runs.

In the spotlight

Yusuf Pathan: His 37-ball century, the fastest in the IPL and second quickest overall, was the sole reason Rajasthan got anywhere close to Mumbai's 212. On flat pitches and small grounds, Yusuf is a brutal batsman and Rajasthan's strategy in previous tournaments has been to build a platform for him to launch an assault from, whether chasing or batting first. He wasn't attacked with any bouncers during his blitz, which was surprising considering he has struggled against the short ball. A cheap dismissal will severely dent Rajasthan's chances of challenging Delhi's batting line-up. Expect Nannes to dig them in tomorrow.

Tait v Nannes: Shaun Tait and Dirk Nannes are specialist Twenty20 fast bowlers for Australia. Tait sent down thunderbolts nearing 160kmh during the summer, intimidating international batsmen into dismissals, while Nannes maintained his accurate lines and lengths at around 150kmh. In combination, they were a potent force but tomorrow they will be opponents with the responsibility of making inroads into other's top order. Nannes was exceptional against Punjab but Tait was poor at Brabourne. Another failure tomorrow could result in Rajasthan chasing leather.

Prime numbers

• Yusuf went from 15 off 14 balls to 69 off 25 against Mumbai by hitting 11 consecutive balls for 6,6,6,6,4,4,6,4,4,4 and 4.

• Nannes' first spell Punjab was 2-0-3-0 with ten dot balls. His spell at the death was 2-0-9-2.

Chatter

"Over the 30-odd games we have played if you look at our numbers we probably are the worst in the first six overs. If you take the top three of Graeme Smith, Swapnil Asnodkar and Shane Watson that first year compared to last year (there is a ) 900 runs difference (of their aggregate score)."
Shane Warne wants some more momentum at the top of the order.