Delhi Daredevils made a formidable 191 after put into bat, but the Royal Challengers could muster only 181 for five in reply, accepting a 10-run defeat. This was their fourth loss in five Indian Premier League matches.
The home side should be highly indebted to Glenn McGrath, declared the man of the match, for their win at the Feroze Shah Kotla stadium. The Australian pacer had won so many battles in his illustrious career over so many opponents.

The veteran New South Waleshman gobbled up the dangerous Praveen Kumar, promoted as opener in this game, Wasim Jaffer and Ross Taylor. A lot was dependent upon Taylor while chasing a total as big as the one Delhi amassed. But on his last assignment for his IPL team, the New Zealander failed to lead the charge. Taylor will leave for the Test series against England on Thursday.

Rahul Dravid and Jacques Kallis added 87 runs for the fourth wicket to rekindle the visitors' hopes, but McGrath, who used the bounce in the pitch to telling effect, intercepted at the right moment, dismissing Dravid. Kallis, who scored a fine fifty, and Boucher tried gamely, but the target was too high to grab.

Starting with a bang
For Delhi, captain Sehwag and Gambhir started the proceedings with a bang. There was a bit of carry for the bowlers on the pitch, but the Bangalore bowlers could never exploit it, erring constantly in line and length.

Sehwag during his short but exciting stay at the crease tore apart Bangalore's new ball attack in his inimitable fashion. Sehwag started the evening fireworks, slamming Zaheer Khan for a huge six over mid-wicket and followed it up with one over sightscreen a little while later.

But his cameo soon came to an end when a direct throw from Taylor at covers caught the Delhi dasher a tad short of the crease. But by then the duo had added 53 runs to build a strong launch pad. Gambhir till then played the role of an admiring supporter transformed into the enforcer while partnering an equally entertaining Shikhar Dhawan.

The left-handed Delhi lads ripped Royal Challengers' with some twinkling shots to all corners of the park.

Bangalore bowlers needed to try something out of the box to curb the free flowing Delhiites. Instead, the visitors kept on feeding to the strengths of the duo, and it does not need any special invitation for players in the calibre of Gambhir and Dhawan to cash in on the chances.

Gambhir has proved his class at the highest level over the years, and the India opener bruised almost everyone bowled at him. Praveen was an exception on the evening as the Uttar Pradesh bowler employed clever variations to show how to bowl on such pitches. Unfortunately, there were not many followers for him.

Bundle of talent
Dhawan is a bundle of talent, and the youngster proved his billing as one of the brightest prospects of Indian cricket.

His senior partner conjured his fifty from 36 balls, but Dhawan outshone him, bringing his half-century in 32 balls. It became all the more remarkable as it was a slog swept six off Kallis that fetched him the mark.

Dhawan departed soon after completing his half-century, Dravid taking a sensational catch at mid-wicket off Kallis.

Gambhir gave the impression that he would become the first Delhi player to score a hundred in the IPL, but he offered a simple catch to Praveen off Zaheer Khan for 83.

His dismissal sparked late comeback by the Bangalore bowlers as they sent back dangerous Shoaib Malik and Dinesh Kaarthick soon to clamp the scoring rate. But the Delhi batsmen had already performed their part.

SCORE BOARD
DAREDEVILS: Gambhir c Praveen b Zaheer 86 (54b, 11x4, 1x6); Sehwag (run out) 24 (12b, 2x4, 2x6); Dhawan c Dravid b Kallis 50 (33b, 4x4, 3x6); Malik b Steyn 6 (4b, 1x4); Kaarthick b Kallis 2 (4b), Tiwary (not out) 11 (9b, 1x4); Bhatia (not out) 8 (5b, 1x4). Extras (LB-2, NB-1, W-1) 4; Total (for 5 wkts; 20 overs) 191.

Fall of wickets: 1-53 (Sehwag), 2-151 (Dhawan), 3-159 (Malik), 4-167 (Kaarthick), 5-179 (Gambhir).

Bowling: Steyn 4-0-29-1 (w-1, nb-1), Zaheer 4-0-42-1, Praveen 4-0-24-0, Vinay Kumar 2-0-25-0, Kallis 4-0-39-2, Kohli 1-0-11-0, Joshi 1-0-19-0.

Scoring Pattern: 5 overs: 53/1, 10: 91/1, 15: 151/2, End of Innings: 191/5 in 20 overs.

Runs during Power Play: 1-6: 58/1.

ROYAL CHALLENGERS: Praveen c Dhawan b McGrath 6 (5b, 1x4); Jaffer c Yomahesh b McGrath 10 (9b, 1x6); Taylor c Dhawan b McGrath 29 (15b, 3x4, 1x6); Kallis b Vettori 54 (44b, 6x4, 1x6); Dravid c Sehwag b McGrath 38 (30b, 4x4, 1x6); Boucher (not out) 31 (17b, 1x4, 2x6); Kohli (not out) 1 (1b). Extras (B-1, LB-10, NB-1) 12. Total (for 5 wkts, 20 overs) 181

Fall of wickets: 1-6 (Praveen), 2-46 (Taylor), 3-48 (Jaffer), 4-135 (Dravid), 5-162 (Kallis).

Bowling: McGrath 4-0-29-4, Asif 4-0-42-0, Yo Mahesh 4-0-28-0, Vettori 4-0-19-1, Bhatia 1-0-14-0, Malik 1-0-8-0, Sehwag 2-0-30-0.

Scoring Pattern: 5 overs: 48/3, 10: 83/3, 15: 134/3, End of Innings: 181/5 in 20 overs.

Runs during Power Play: 1-6: 55/3.