Analysis

Patchy top-order continues to worry Delhi

Delhi's underachieving top order has laid obstacles in their march to the semi-finals

David Warner has four single-digit scores in six knocks  •  Indian Premier League

David Warner has four single-digit scores in six knocks  •  Indian Premier League

Pre-tournament favourites Delhi Daredevils may have broken their three-match losing streak with the win over Chennai Super Kings to move closer to the semi-finals, but the worries over their vaunted top-order remain. A target of 113 should have been a snap, but the loss of three wickets in the first two overs made it a strenuous trek towards victory.
It started when offspinner R Ashwin continued his trend of providing early breakthroughs, removing Warner in the first over, after the batsman failed to keep the cut along the ground. In the next over, Australian fast bowler Doug Bollinger, who has already won over Chennai hearts with his bustling displays over the past couple of weeks, increased his fan-count by nipping out Virender Sehwag and Tillakaratne Dilshan in the space of four deliveries - Sehwag chasing a wide, full delivery and Dilshan bowled when attempting an extravagant cover drive.
Delhi were 6 for 3, and the deafening cries of 'Bollinger, Bollinger' ringing round the MA Chidambaram Stadium made it hard to believe the home side had scratched their way to one of the lowest totals of the tournament less than half an hour ago. Sensible batting from Gautam Gambhir and Mithun Manhas, who cut out the big hits and dealt mainly in singles initially, took Delhi to a vital win.
However, in a crucial match the feared Delhi hitters at the top had flopped again. Despite the presence of three of the world's most explosive batsmen (Sehwag, Warner, Dilshan) and two of the most consistent run-getters in recent years (Gambhir and AB de Villiers), the Delhi batting hasn't clicked as often as one would expect.
Sehwag has one half-century in the past ten innings, de Villiers and Dilshan have none this season, while Warner has four single-digit scores in six knocks. There have been too many blazing cameos and not enough starring roles. All of which means Delhi were drawn into a mid-table scrap, jostling with five other teams in the scramble for the semi-finals.
Ten days ago, a place in the final four seemed a formality, after thrashing a strong Royal Challengers Bangalore to soar into second spot and 12 points. They are now in the comfort of third spot, but like today's victory, qualification to the next stage is proving more troublesome than it should have been.
With the race remaining tense, captains have lashed out at their teams following shoddy performances. Sourav Ganguly termed his term's effort "absolutely rubbish" after the loss in Bangalore, and Gambhir didn't spare his big-name batsmen after the win today.
"Chasing 113 was not an easy job and you can't just bat irresponsibly," he said at the post-match presentation. "The top order needed to bat with some responsibility. You can't bat just like that and leave the job for the lower order."
Gambhir himself has had a bit of a lean spell, with three run-outs in his past four innings, and was thrilled to have anchored the side to victory. "We lost the top order without scoring much and I had to ensure that I stayed till the end. I am happy to have led from the front to get a win."
With Dirk Nannes and Ashish Nehra both recovering from injuries, Delhi had their first-choice new-ball combination together for the first time in the tournament, and the pair delivered by taking out three of the opposition's batsmen early. Now, Delhi need the duo that faces the new ball to get back on track.

Siddarth Ravindran is a sub-editor at Cricinfo