IANS

New Delhi, Oct 19: Delhi Daredevils finally got their act together and salvaged some pride with a consolation 30-run victory over Cape Cobras at the Ferozeshah Kotla ground here Monday.

It was an inconsequential match for Daredevils as they are already out of the semi-final race, and they chose not to field their frontline players. The home team, however, gave something to cheer about to the sizeable turnout with a decent showing.

Put to bat, Daredevils stuttered to a total of 114 for six, thanks to contributions from Dinesh Karthik (23), Manoj Tiwari (19) and Owais Shah (39 not out off 38 balls).

The bowlers, however, rose to the ocassion and cleaned up the South African side for 84 runs in 18.3 overs. Dirk Nannes took three for 19 while Yogesh Nagar, Amit Mishra and Tillakaratne Dilshan took two wickets each.

Cobras, who are already through to the semifinals, will take on Trinidad and Tobago in the second semifinal at Hyderabad. The two Australian sides Victoria Bushrangers and New South Wales will play in the first semi-final here Wednesday.

Cape Cobras were in the hunt till the start of the 16th over, but folded up dramatically in the end.

They required 40 runs from 30 balls with four wickets in hand when Nannes struck twice to leave them rattled. He clean bowled Ryan Canning and Claude Henderson off his last two balls of the 16th over. It was a hattrick of wickets for Daredevils when Yogesh Nagar removed Monde Zondeki with his first ball in the next over. He then dismissed last man Vernon Philander.

The start, however, had been anything but impressive for Daredevils.

Fast bowler Rory Kleinveldt removed openers Tillakaratne Dilshan and Gautam Gambhir in the second over of the innings. Both the batsmen had their stumps rattled, leaving Daredevils in deep trouble with only four runs on the board.

Karthik, who had been the team's saviour this season, once again came to the rescue of his team.

Karthik counter attacked brilliantly, hitting Kleinveldt for three consecutive boundaries.

He and Manoj Tiwari added 40 runs for the second wicket before the latter was dismissed by Claude Henderson.

Karthik was then run out after a terrible mix-up with Owais Shah and Delhi was once again on the backfoot.

Shah and Yogesh Nagar (19) saved the blushes for Delhi, scoring 34 runs.

Shah and Amit Mishra (8) then helped Delhi cross the 100-mark with some solid hits in the final overs.

Defending a small total, Daredevils captain Gautam Gambhir surprised everyone by giving the first over to Dilshan.

The move paid off and the Sri Lankan off-spinner trapped Herschelle Gibbs, who had pulled himself out of the last match at Bangalore after a security scare, with his second ball.

Nannes, who had been impressive throughout the tournament, generated enough pace to rattle the stumps of Andrew Puttick, two balls after a fierce bouncer had smashed the helmet of Henry Davids (22).

Nannes continued with the same vein when he returned with the ball for the second spell and saw his team through.