Steely batsmen win matches and that’s what happened on Sunday. Royal Challengers led by Kevin Pietersen batted first, winning the toss, to put a reasonable target of 150 for Delhi. Openers Khalis and Uttappa budged cheaply. The former for a duck and the latter for 3. Pietersen and Ross Taylor put on 62 for the third wicket. When the going seemed smooth, Paterson bungled with his bat for a reverse sweep off Vettori, which he will remember for long. Even before the ball pitched, he jumped to other side to switch-hit the ball, which cost his wicket by castling the stumps. Boucher and Virat Kohli were the other pair to score 61 for the fifth wicket partnership.

Needing 150 to win, Delhi’s captain Shewag and Gambir opened the Innings but fell for 7 & 16. Dilshan came next to open up his fury with a first 4 off Pankaj and went on to slash 67 not out (2 sixes; 5 fours), after surviving a close call for run out at 65/2. AB de Vlliers (21) Dinesh Karthik (12) and Manhas (26 n/o) batted sensibly to help the team achieve the target comfortably with 4 balls to spare.

Dilshan was the unquestionable Man of the Match. Delhi has won 3 matches in a row so far.