Sehwag-Gambhir Duo kept the Semis Berth Chances Open

A typical Virender Sehwag (47) blistering knock and his 90-run first wicket stand with Gautam Gambhir (39) helped Delhi Daredevils survive a middle order collapse to coast to a 5-wicket win over Bangalore Royal Challengers in an absorbing Indian Premier League tie here on Monday.

Chasing 155 for a crucial victory, the Daredevils rode on Sehwag and Gambhir's rollicking start to reach 158 for five with 10 balls to spare to notch up their sixth win from 12 matches and kept them in the reckoning for a semifinal berth.

Earlier, after being put in to bat, Bangalore Royal Challengers continued their characteristic wobbly start to post a modest 154 for 7, raised mainly on Sreevats Goswami's debut half century (52) and Misbah-ul-Haq's (47) late charge.

Sehwag and Gambhir, who faced only 41 balls for their 90-run stand, were cautious for the first two overs but began raining fours and sixes after that with Gambhir, IPL's top run getter, punishing Dale Steyn and his captain doing the same to Zaheer Khan.

After the second over, the IPL's top two run getters got at least two fours in an over before Sehwag was out courtesy a brilliant catch by Bharat Chipli in the seventh over after hitting Praveen Kumar for three fours and a six in that over