IPL
Deccan end Daredevil run
2009-05-22 21:00
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Pretoria - Adam Gilchrist hit the fastest half-century in Twenty20 cricket Friday to steer the Deccan Chargers into the Indian Premier League final following a six-wicket victory over Delhi Daredevils.
Gilchrist scored 85 after reaching his 50 from 17 balls to justify his decision to bowl first as Deccan chased down Delhi's 153-8 with 14 balls to spare at Centurion Park.
The former Australia wicketkeeper belted 10 boundaries and five sixes in 35 balls before being dismissed by legspinner Amit Mishra in the 10th over.
"It's been a great experience to come back after a year off," Gilchrist said. "Our plans on this ground worked well for us. The guys played extremely well."
"Twenty20 cricket, anyone can fancy their chances," he added of his team's chances in the IPL final at Wanderers on Sunday. "You can be in a total winning position and lose it... (it's) a two-horse race, anyone can win it."
Deccan lost its first wicket in the second over when Herschelle Gibbs came down the wicket and was bowled by Dirk Nannes for a duck.
After Gibbs' dismissal, Gilchrist dominated a second-wicket stand of 69 with Azhar Bilakhia before Bilakhia was beaten on 10 by Mishra's flight to be stumped by Dinesh Karthik in the eighth over.
Mishra took 3-19 in four overs.
"It wasn't our day today," Delhi captain Virender Sehwag said. "Gilly batted extremely well. The bowlers didn't have a clue. We tried everything - yorkers, slower balls - but it came to nought. The way Gilly batted we couldn't do anything. Today, he was at his best and you can't stop him."
Andrew Symonds added 24 before being dismissed in the 14th over, caught by David Warner at long on off Mishra.
Tirumalsetti Suman (24 not out) and Rohit Sharma (5 not out) then took Deccan home.
Earlier, Tillakaratne Dilshan top-scored for Delhi with 65 with opening bowler Ryan Harris taking two wickets for no runs in the first over, dismissing openers Gautam Gambhir and David Warner for ducks. Harris return figures of 3-27 in four overs.