Momentum

Jeremy Coney called it "curate's egg-ish", meaning good in patches. I thought it was more like a pendulum, swinging to one side and then the other.

The DD batting effort went in fits and starts. For the best part of the first innings neither Delhi Daredevils nor Deccan Chargers could claim to have run away with the match. Just when the DD batsmen had looked like making it count, they threw their wickets away (despite the DC fielders largesse).And just when DC looked like pegging things back, a last ball boundary or a dropped catch would alter the balance.

Rohit Sharma has an air of effortlessness about things he does, whether its unhurried strokeplay or bowling his offspinners or making those diving stops at point. Shades of Mark Waugh and Carl Hooper here. There is also, however, a lack of intensity (Suresh Raina scores here and has become the first among equals). The catch, when it came, was too simple to put a visible effort in. He would take it blindfolded/in his sleep/one hand tied behind his back. But today he fluffed it. He will take blinders in future, but this will hurt. Batting wise, he could have made amends, coasted in Gilchrist's slipstream, scored 50 from 40 and made this a canter for DC. He hit one gorgeous backfoot off-drive (to remind us of his obvious class and make us want more of it) and hit the first ball of the next over to cover. Pretty twenties and sweet sixteens will not win a place in the Test line up.

Dilshan's cameo and AB's neat effort happened and still DD was on 131/6 when Rajat Bhatia left first ball. This was the time DC bowlers should have regrouped. Instead we saw a couple of short ones from Ojha which Dinesh Karthik put away for fours. Still they could have kept it to about 150. RP Singh, after clunking DK on the helmet delivers a leg stump full toss of the last ball of his spell(and 19th over). DK was composed enough to smash it over deep mid wicket. RP! RP! Could you not get it right for one last time in the match? Lack of concentration in crucial moments(more of the same to follow). This is why I feel DC won't go beyond semis. The carnage in over no 20 was but inevitable. 47 runs in overs 6 ( more of it some other time) and 20 alone. Only one winner after that.

But who would expect Gilchrist and Symonds to fire on the same day. Pradeep Sangwan kept his head while the sixes and fours kept coming. Despite Suman and Rohit throwing it away and Gilchrist falling after the break, it was a stroll for for DC with Symonds opening out (frightening power, canny bowling, ace fielder, a lesser version of the King minus the chewing gum and swagger ) It was 29 from 24 at one point with 7 wickets in hand.Ravi Teja had to only put bat/body/whatever to ball and get across, instead he allowed himself to be psyched out.

Still Symonds and Dwayne Smith in and the match could end in this(18th) Rajat Bhatia over. It did. Spectacularly. Gentle full tosses and slower ones undo two of the hardest hitters in today's game, swinging the pendulum irrevocably, this time and showcasing the importance of strong domestic picks. Badshah Khan, Cyber Coach, Booze Baron are you guys listening?

Finally, it was heart warming to see the excitement in Bhatia's eyes during the MOM (like Badri the other day) and Viru's broad grin when his long time Ranji mate received the award. 15 mins of fame - despite its excesses and ills, the IPL does have something going for it. Let the show go on, if not for anything else, at least for the unsung Bhatias of domestic cricket.