If Hyderabad had a dream start while bowling, they went one better while batting. They needed 7.65 runs per over when they started their innings, but in one over Adam Gilchrist had brought the required rate down to 7.00, smashing Dirk Nannes for 5 consecutive fours in the first over. Ashish Nehra pulled things back a little by castling Gibbs in the next over, but Delhi needed more than just one wicket to put pressure on the powerful Hyderabad batting line-up. That didn’t happen however, as Gilchrist was in a murderous mood, and was swatting fours and sixes like there was no tomorrow. He reached the fastest half-century in the IPL (in both seasons), getting there in just 17 balls. After four overs Hyderabad were 56 for 1, and the required rate had come down to just 6.12. In a desperate measure, Sehwag brought himself on to bowl, and was promptly dispatched for 25 runs, including 3 consecutive sixes. With Delhi looking dazed and battered on the field, Amit Mishra came to their rescue, getting the marauding Gilchrist out when he top-edged a a slog sweep into the hands of Dirk Nannes off the last ball of the tenth over. Gilchrist had made 85 off 35 balls, and put Hyderabad in a position of supreme strenght at 102 for 3 at the strategy break, requiring just 52 runs off the next 10 overs.
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