PRETORIA // Adam Gilchrist left Supersport Park a happy man yesterday after guiding his Deccan Chargers side into the final with a six-wicket victory over the Delhi Daredevils. The Australian blasted the fastest half-century in the tournament's history when he reached the mark off only 17 balls, before going on to make 85 as his side coasted past the victory target of 154 with more than two overs to spare.
It was a merciless display from the veteran wicketkeeper and he was delighted all the hard work put in by last year's bottom-placed side had paid off. "It was a great thrill for us to come into the tournament as underdogs and we've managed to make our way to the final," he said. "It's not yet over though and we've got one more big push on Sunday. "All I've asked my players to do right through the tournament is to make whatever they're doing at that specific time the most important thing in their life for that moment."
Gilchrist described his innings as the best of his Twenty20 career and revealed the plan from the start was to attack. He added: "I would say this is probably my best knock in Twenty20 cricket. I scored a hundred against Mumbai last year but that was not in a semi-final." Gilchrist's innings had come after Tillakaratne Dilshan made 65 to help rescue Delhi from losing two wickets without scoring a run thanks to Ryan Harris, who finished with three for 27.
Skipper Virender Sehwag was disappointed but felt there was nothing any captain could do against a player in such form. "Our bowlers tried everything and it all went for fours and sixes. I think Gilchrist batted extremely well and no one could have stopped him. It was just his day," he said. "I think it is part of the game, nobody was expecting it." * PA
