The Deccan Chargers have done it. After a disastrous campaign in the first edition of the Indian Premier League last year, the Hyderabad boys have stormed their way into the last four of the second version.

Led by Adam Gilchrist, a spirited team, without much offing from the legendary VVS Laxman won seven out of their 14 league games. Kudos to the owners for not making wholesale changes.

Captain cool!

With Gilly at the helm, the team went on a rampage. West Indian tearaway Fidel Edwards and RP Singh made a fearsome combination with the new ball while Herschelle Gibbs showed his class in spurts at the top of the order with Gilchrist.

The former Australian wicketkeeper batsman has led his team with such conviction that nobody noticed Edwards’ departure for England to join his team on national duty or the late arrival of Andew Symonds.

The young turks have delivered for the Chargers. Rohit Sharma has done his job with the bat and ball as well, what with a sensational hat-trick against the Mumbai Indians.

Left-arm spinner Pragyan Ojha has been at the top of his game, getting the ball to grip and turn on the tiring South African pitches at the end of their cricketing season.

Hyderabad, with their fielding and athleticism have looked the part and in a bizarre turn of events have done what they could not achieve with a start-studded unit last year.

The moment of truth has arrived. The Delhi Daredevils have travelled a different path. They reached the semis last year as they have done now. Virender Sehwag’s boys have been on a roll, butchering their opponents with a disdain characteristic of their leader.

Gautam Gambhir and Sehwag had a torrid time through the tournament before both struck form in their last league game against the Mumbai Indians.

Sehwag had to in fact sit out for a few matches after sustaining a worrying injury but Delhi did not lose the momentum. They cruised and made merry and by the end of the league stage, have won 10 out of their 14 games, losing only four.

AB deVilliers has been a force to reckon with in the second edition and his century against the Chennai Super Kings set some eyebrows up. Delhi were the team to watch out for.

Delhi’s deadly attack

When you are up against a team which has to keep Glenn McGrath confined in the dugout for the entire event, you know there is lots to deal with.

His Australian counterpart, Dirk Nannes has been brilliant and with another left-armer Ashish Nehra for support, the new ball operators made life distinctly unpleasant for the top men in the business.

Add to that spin twins, Daniel Vettori and leg-spinner Amit Mishra and Delhi put forth as daunting a bowling attack.

Sehwag would perhaps be most satisfied with the way all-rounder Rajat Bhatia creamed in his yorkers.

He may not have been a roaring success with the bat but his stunning consistency with the ball has been unnerving for all teams. This man can strike and strike big.

These are two evenly matched teams, bracing up for the first semi final of what has been a tantalisingly close tournament. The Chargers and the Daredevils will know whatever they have achieved so far would soon be history.

It is all down to one match now. Both teams would be on their toes. The Delhi Daredevils have never lost to the Deccan Chargers. Could tonight be any different?

We shall know in a few hours.

Approaching milestones:

- In case of a win by Deccan Chargers, they would be recording their first against Delhi in four games. Against Delhi and Punjab, Deccan Chargers have never won a game, losing all four to both teams.

- Adam Gilchrist (846) holds a record for the highest run-aggregate and needs 54 runs to become the first to complete 900 runs in the IPL.

- Abraham de Villiers (439) requires 61 to become the second batsman after Matthew Hayden (546) to complete 500 runs in the IPL 2009.

- Ashish Nehra (18) needs two wickets more to become the first Delhi bowler to complete 20 wickets in the IPL 2009. Rudra Pratap Singh, with 20 wickets at 18.40 runs apiece, is the leading wicket-taker.

Head to head: