Bangalore, May 19: It was almost like expecting the unexpected, which actually did not happen, as the Royal Challengers seem to have fallen into the habit of losing.

Clearly, the Bangalore team will require Herculean effort to kick the habit, if they have to earn a better progress report in this inaugural Indian Premier League.

The fate of the match was sealed in the first 10 overs of the second innings as a blitzkrieg by skipper Virender Sehwag shut the Challengers out of the contest.

From then on switching into cruise mode, the Daredevils overhauled the Challengers’ score of 154/7 in just 18.2 overs.

While for Bangalore the loss meant that they have not tasted success in their last five matches, Delhi gave fresh impetus to their semifinal quest.

Sehwag’s 19-ball 47 was studded with shots all-round wicket.

The Nawab of Najafgarh made the total look smaller that it actually was on a wicket that offered some help to the bowlers.

It looked like Sehwag had taken to the field with an oath – to smash the ball as hard and as far as possible and this attitude that differentiated the two teams.

Gautam Gambhir, was the one who set the tempo early on, flicking the first ball of the Daredevils innings to the boundary. Thereafter he a subdued innings, relishing Sehwag’s assault from the other end.

The southpaw has been a revelation during the IPL and became the first batsman to amass 500 runs in the tourney,

Even though, they lost a few quick wickets in the latter half, Sehwag’s dashing innings meant that they never struggled en route to victory, as the Farveez Maharoof (13, 8b) and Shikhar Dhawan (16, 13b) finished the chase with ease.

Earlier, the Royal Challengers did nothing to brighten the spirits of the spectators, already dampened by showers, two hours before the match.

With four sixes and two boundaries, Misbah-ul Haq (47, 25b) provided the much needed fireworks towards the fag end of the innings in the 20th over. This ensured that the Challengers crossed the 150-run mark.

Delhi all-rounder Rajat Bhatia bore the brunt of the Misbah’s attack conceding 24 runs in the last over of the Bangalore innings.

After failing to make a mark in the earlier matches, he made sure that he did not miss out on the fun this time around.

But it was India U-19 wicketkeeper Srivats Goswami who was the backbone of the Bangalore innings after he grabbed the chance that came his way with both hands.

Making his IPL debut, after being chosen ahead of South African Mark Boucher, Goswami showed glimpses of his talent.

Even though he was tentative to start with, he eased his nerves with a pull of Pradeep Sangwan.

He hit three more boundaries behind the wicket in the same over.

From then on the pint sized lad from Lilua in West Bengal was confidence personified.

Goswami, who celebrated his birthday on Sunday, earned a birthday gift for himself with a 39-ball half tons that included a few delightful pulls to the fence.

Maharoof and McGrath were the pick of the Delhi bowlers clinching two wickets each.