CHENNAI, May 3: Virender Sehwag continued his romance with the Chidambaram Stadium, smacking a blistering 71 that enabled Delhi Daredevils whip Chennai Super Kings by eight wickets in an important Indian Premier League (IPL) match here on Friday (also briefly reported in Saturday’s edition).

Having scored a triple-century against South Africa in a recent Test match here, Sehwag was keen to get going from early on and managed just that as his team coasted to the target of 170 with one over to spare and also caught up with the opposition on the points table, and in fact, went right to the top on better net run-rate.

Sehwag hit Makhaya Ntini for a flat six over third-man in the very first over of the innings and kept going in the same vein, coming down severely on Manpreet Gony, whom he hit for two sixes in the same over once. Sehwag was quick to loft anything pitched up but also played some deft shots, including a late guide to third-man off wily spinner Muttiah Muralitharan for four.

Sehwag cracked four sixes and seven fours during his 41-ball knock, adding 115 with opening partner Gautam Gambhir, before he was caught by Muralitharan at third-man off Joginder Sharma.

After Sehwag’s departure, left-handed Gambhir went on steadily to compile a neat 50 off 37 deliveries with one six and five fours, going past Matthew Hayden’s highest aggregate of 189 in the tournament in the course of his third-half century in the IPL.

Sehwag and Gambhir gave no respite to the bowlers, completing the century-stand off just 55 deliveries. By the time Sehwag fell in the 12th over, the writing was on the wall. A.B. de Villiers and Shikhar Dhawan then guided the team to victory with a 33-run unbroken stand for the third wicket.

For Chennai Super Kings, Vidyut Sivaramakrishnan produced a brisk half-century as the home side aggregated 169-6. The left-hander seized the initiative even as other left-handers Stephen Fleming (13) and Parthiv Patel (21) failed to keep going after initial flourishes.

Sivaramakrishnan, son of former Tamil Nadu player Venkatraman Sivaramakrishnan, struck a brisk 54 off 37 deliveries, which included a well-timed straight six off Virender Sehwag apart from seven fours.

Backing off and creating space in order to free his arms, Sivaramakrishnan became looked predictable and tired later in the innings. Glenn McGrath sized him up on being brought back early for his second spell and had him caught at mid-off.

After Mahendra Singh Dhoni (32), South African Albie Morkel (28) boosted the total down the order with a brisk 28, once hitting two consecutive sixes to India under-19 seamer Pradeep Sangwan.

Sivaramakrishnan, who started off as a left-arm spinner before becoming more of a batsman, saw a swing in fortunes after scoring a gritty century (115) batting at No 11 in a Ranji Trophy match against Delhi some years ago.

Earlier, Yo Mahesh, a promising seam bowler who is from Chennai but is playing for the Daredevils in the IPL, dismissed Fleming in his eventful first over. He bowled the former Kiwi skipper with his first ball but was called for overstepping. Fleming dispatched the resultant ‘free hit’, also a no-ball, for a four, square on the off-side. The next ‘free hit’ too went past the ropes, this time in the covers.

But Yo Mahesh’s very next delivery was a fine one that came in and knocked down the stumps.

In the process, Delhi Daredevils inflicted the first loss on Chennai Super Kings, who were on the top of the points table having won all their previous matches. The Daredevils, too have just one loss so far, as do Rajasthan Royals. All three teams are tied on points with the Daredevils enjoying the best run-rate.

Chennai Super Kings, for the first time, were without their Australian pair of Matthew Hayden and Michael Hussey, who have played significant roles in the team’s wins in the past games. Kiwi all-rounder Jacob Oram too is no more with them. Delhi have lost left-arm spinner Daniel Vettori but their batting was bolstered with de Villiers joining the team. Sangwan came in for Manoj Tiwary.

The hosts brought in Fleming and Morkel for the Aussie players while South African paceman Ntini got his first game as he replaced Oram. The home team recalled Muralitharan, who missed the last match. They also dropped Palani Amarnath for Sivaramakrishnan.

Summarised scores:

CHENNAI SUPER KINGS 169-6 in 20 overs (Vidyut Sivaramakrishnan 51, Mahendra Singh Dhoni 32, Albie Morkel 28, Parthiv Patel 21);

DELHI DAREDEVILS 172-2 in 19 overs (Virender Sehwag 71, Gautam Gambhir 50, A.B. de Villiers 26 not out).—Agencies