In-form Shikhar Dhawan notched up a scintillating 49-ball 84 to guide Deccan Chargers to a challenging 187 for four against Delhi Daredevils in their Indian Premier League match here today.
Dhawan blasted nine fours and five sixes in his innings and racked up 126 runs in 70 balls along with Cameron White (65) to take the home team across the 150-mark at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium. Openers Dhawan and Daniel Harris (19) gave Deccan a good start as the duo dealt in fours right from the start after skipper Kumar Sangakkara won the toss and elected to bat.
However, Morne Morkel struck in his second over, removing Harris as the home team slipped to 28 for one in 4.5 overs. Looking to drive a short of length delivery, Harris ended up giving a catch to Mahela Jayawardene at short cover.
First down Kumar Sangakkara was also back into the hut quickly after his miscued pull off Varon Aaron ended up in the safe hands of Shahbaz Nadeem at short mid-wicket.
Dhawan and in-form Cameron White then joined hands and brought up the fifty in eight overs.
White took little time to get going and blasted consecutive fours in the seventh over off Irfan Pathan, before paddle-sweeping Nadeem for another boundary in the next over.
Dhawan then took charge and smashed Andrew Russell over the mid-wicket, before sending him across the square-leg boundary in his next over. The left-hander then treated Nadeem with equal disdain, blasting him for consecutive six to accumulate 15 runs off the 12th over.
Dhawan then picked up Pathan for special treatment and plundered two fours and a six to amass 16 runs of the over to not only bring up his personal fifty but also take the Chargers across the 100-mark.
White and Dhawan kept their foot on the accelerator and raised another 11 runs in the next over with the help of a couple of fours.