CAPE TOWN – Delhi Daredevils knocked out Perth Scorchers in a low scoring match of the Champions League Twenty20 Tournament here Sunday. The clouds hung heavy over Newlands but the rain that has blighted much of this tournament stayed away, allowing a tight and intense encounter that ended with Delhi Daredevils moving top of the group. The headliner for Daredevils was Ajit Agarkar, who took two big wickets before coolly finishing off the game with the bat. Though Perth Scorchers were eliminated after this defeat, they showed typical Australian tenaciousness to take the match to the final over. On a track where it was tough for the batsmen to time the ball, Scorchers could run up only 121, but made the Daredevils sweat for victory. It was an unhappy tournament for recalled England batsman Kevin Pietersen here when he made a meagre nine runs. Coming in one place lower than usual at No. 4 for Daredevils at a windy and chilly Newlands, Pietersen made his total off nine balls before being caught at short third man. Scores: Perth Scorchers 121 for 5 (S. Marsh 39, Morkel 3-19). Delhi Daredevils 123 for 7 (Sehwag 52). On Saturday, Lasith Malinga's five-wicket haul and Dinesh Karthik's whirlwind 74 went in vain as Chennai Super Kings eked out a narrow six-run win over Mumbai Indians in an inconsequential Group B match. Even before the first ball was bowled, the match was rendered a dead-rubber after Lions notched up a five-wicket victory over Yorkshire earlier to become the second team from Group B to reach the semifinals, thus knocking out both Chennai and Mumbai Indians. However, both the IPL teams ensured that the spectators at the New Wanderers stadium don't go back disappointed as they enthralled them with an edge-of-the-seat thriller which went down to the wires. Sent into bat, CSK openers du Plessis (52) and Murali Vijay (39) initially lifted the spirit of the spectators with an entertaining 86-run stand in just 49 balls, studded with 10 fours and three sixes. However, Malinga spoilt their party as he notched up a five-wicket haul in his four overs. The Sri Lankan pacer dismissed du Plessis, Suresh Raina (8), Mahendra Singh Dhoni (35), Albie Morkel (0) and Wriddhiman Saha (5) to help Mumbai restrict Chennai to 173-8. Karthik then led the Mumbai run chase with a scintillating 45-ball 74, which was studded with four fours and six sixes, and almost took them to the brink of victory. Pollard also blasted a 17-ball 31 with the help of one four and three sixes but MI still fell short by six runs in the end. — Agencies
