Teams: Delhi Daredevils vs Rajasthan Royals
Venue: Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai
Toss: Delhi Daredevils (Elected to bat)
Result: Rajasthan Royals Won by 105 runs
Man of the match: Shane Watson
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CHENNAI: History is balanced, with both sides reigning at home. But the past will only cease to be past when the two sides vie for final at the Wankhede.

As it had been the theme of this campaign, whichever side performs well on its day will have the final say. Here is a quick overview.

Crucial contests

Delhi openers Vs Sohail Tanvir: It would be an arduous task for the Rajasthan bowlers if either Virender Sehwag or Gautam Gambir gets going.
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A high-octane contest between two well-balanced sides is on the anvil when table toppers Rajasthan Royals take on the confident Delhi Daredevils in the first semi-finals of the Indian Premier League in Mumbai on Friday.

The two teams, which finished first and fourth in the preliminary 56-game phase of the Twenty20 league, look evenly matched ahead of what promises to be a top-drawer stuff in front of a capacity crowd at the Wankhede Stadium.
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Glen “Pigeon” McGrath is content with his current IPL stint and doesn’t plan to revert to the longer form of the game. He has looked the part in the IPL despite having hung his boots at the end of the 2007 ICC Cricket World Cup and has taken to T20 like a fish takes to water. Pigeon’s consistent bowling performance for the Delhi Daredevils lead to an English county offer.

Surrey had approached McGrath and offered him a contract, which is rumored to have involved a fairly good amount of money. But McGrath has turned down the offer citing his retirement from all forms of cricket – except the lucrative IPL – and family commitments. He intends to devote as much time to his family as he can.

In fact McGrath is quite a family man and a doting husband, too, as he took good care of his life partner while she was battling with cancer. County cricket has lost its sheen and allure as international cricketers have to commit for longer periods compared to the better paying and terser IPL. Not a tough decision, isn’t it?

Amit Mishra is the man of the moment for Delhi. He had 15 runs to defend in the final over and he responded with a hat-trick. Mishra finished with 5 for 17, fantastic performance under pressure. He even took the crucial wickets at the top of the order - dismissing Afridi and Gibbs.

Gambhir and Dhawan set up Delhi’s total with half-centuries but Deccan were on course during their run-chase when Afridi and Gibbs were going berserk. Then they lost a few wickets but got back on track when Sharma played a fabulous innings. They once again looked out of the contest when Sharma got out and Styris struggled to build momentum but Rao’s cameo brought them within striking distance. McGrath returned to dismiss Rao in the penultimate over and that was the blow that knocked Deccan out.

The Man of the Match is Amit Mishra for two crucial wickets in his first spell and his last-over hat-trick to win the game for Delhi. He finished with figures of 5 for 17. Delhi have broken their four-match losing streak with a close win. Deccan are virtually out of the semi-finals. It will need a mathematical miracle for them to make it now.

Match No: 37
Teams: Delhi Daredevils vs Deccan Chargers
Venue Feroz Shah Kotla, Delhi
Toss Deccan Chargers
Result: Delhi Daredevils Won By 12 Runs
Man of the match: Amit Mishra
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Teams: Delhi Daredevils vs Deccan Chargers
Preview:
This will be a clash between two teams, both struggling with their form. While the Deccan Chargers are languishing at seventh spot with just two wins in nine matches, the Delhi Daredevils lost their last four matches. Delhi are still very much in the run for a semi-final spot while the Chargers captain Adam Gilchrist himself admitted that his side is out of the running in their quest for a Top 4 place.

Star Watch: Keep an eye on Herschelle Gibbs, who has had a quiet tournament so far. He is ideal for this form of cricket, and as Sanath Jayasuriya showed yesterday, one can never really write off a class player.
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Match No: 35
Teams: Kolkata Knight Riders vs Delhi Daredevils
Venue Eden Gardens, Kolkata
Toss Kolkata Knight Riders (Elected to bat)
 Result: Kolkata Knight Riders won by 23 runs
Man of the Match: Shoaib Akhtar
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Match No: 35
Teams: Kolkata Knight Riders vs Delhi Daredevils
Time: 8PM IST, 13th may 2008
Venue: Kolkata

Preview-Shoaib likely to debut
This is a crucial match for both teams in their quest to make the Top 4 slots. Kolkata is equal on points with Delhi, but the former is ahead on Net Run Rate. Comeback King Saurav Ganguly has struck form and will be eager to lenghten their mini winning streak of two matches. The Delhi top order batsmen are in good form, but the middle-order of Karthik, de Villiers and Shoaib Malik need to find their touch quickly.
Mini- battles:
A keen contest is likely between Delhi openers Gambhir and Sehwag against their Ranji team-mate Ishant Sharma. Should Shoaib Akthar play this match, Delhi had better watch out for his breakneck speed.
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Rajasthan have maintained their superior record at home and have now extended their victories to 7. Looks like a semi-final berth is certain. Watson’s in the running for the Player of the Tournament if he goes on like this. Rajasthan were uncharacteristically slow off the blocks, especially after two embarassing run-outs, but after the Powerplay, things changed. Smith and Watson clubbed 59 off runs off four overs and never looked back. Delhi aren’t looking as steady as they were when the tournament began. They were exposed after Sehwag and Dhawan were dismissed early and their middle order looks shaky. They’re currently at No.5 in the standings.

Post-match presentation:

Sehwag: “It was a good total on this wicket where the ball wasn’t coming onto the bat. But in the end of the day, two dropped catches cost us. Mishra bowled really well. The umpire told us we cannot refer the decision to the third umpire because he said there was no television coverage it couldn’t be referred. We asked him to check with the third umpire if there was coverage and eventually the third umpire was called.

Warne: “We bowled 19 pretty good overs but my over was a shocker. Watson’s played one of the best innings of the IPL, coming out the way he did. It worked out well having the extra batsman Dimitri coming in. Proud of the way the guys fought. We’ve got 4 days in Goa, we’ll sit on the beach, play some tennis.”

Watson is the Man of the Match: “We were behind the 8 ball when I walked in. I couldn’t stick around for too long getting my eye in. It’s kind to hear when people call you the best player in terms of value for money. It’s a nice feeling for me, coming back after my injuries.”