World Of Sports

An unbeaten 94 from Virender Sehwag inspired the Delhi Daredevils to a nine-wicket win against the Deccan Chargers - their second such victory at the start of their Indian Premier League campaign.

The opener, who recently scored an Indian Test record 319 following his return to the national team, reached his total off just 41 balls as his side eased past their opponents' total of 142 for eight with seven overs remaining.

Sehwag hit 10 fours and six sixes, including 30 bludgeoned from one Andrew Symonds over.

Rohit Sharma was the only batsman to figure for the home side, hitting 66 off 36 balls as the pre-tournament favourites fell to the bottom of the IPL table.

With Pakistan having beaten Bangladesh in their Twenty20 international at the weekend, both teams were boosted by the arrival of victorious players - Shahid Afridi replacing Scott Styris for the home side while the Daredevils included both Mohammad Asif and Shoaib Malik.

And it was Asif who did the early damage, bowling both Adam Gilchrist (8) and Chargers captain VVS Laxman (2).

Metronomic

At the other end Glenn McGrath was at his metronomic best for the Daredevils, conceding 22 as he bowled out his four overs.

The Chargers' batsmen were feeling the heat, with Venugopal Rao (14) and Symonds (12) both falling to Farveez Maharoof to leave them on 45-4 after 10 overs.

Their prospects were further blunted when Afridi (2) was trapped lbw by the medium pace of Rajat Bhatia.

Sharma then increased the hopes of home fans when he blasted 26 from the 17th over, bowled by Maharoof, including consecutive sixes to bring up his fifty from 31 balls.

But he fell soon after, Sharma being caught on the mid-wicket boundary by McGrath.

The visitors' reply was never in doubt, with Gautam Gambhir (12) the only wicket to fall - caught by Gilchrist from the bowling of RP Singh.

Sehwag then arrived at the crease and reached his 50 from 27 balls, his taming of Symonds then following in the form of three fours and three sixes.

That drew the scores level, with victory then sealed from the first ball of the next over when Shikhar Dhawan (25 no) watched a Chaminda Vaas delivery go wide down the leg side.