THE Deccan Chargers moved up to fourth in the Indian Premier League table with a 16-run win over fellow strugglers Delhi Daredevils.
With both sides searching for only their second win of the campaign, the Chargers prevailed as Sunny Sohal (62 runs off 41 balls) led the way in a total of 168 for four from their 20 overs, ably supported by skipper Kumar Sangakkara (49) and a 31-run salvo by Cameron White.
In reply, David Warner provided Delhi’s only bright spark at Feroz Shah Kotla, but his 51 off 48 balls was in vain – despite a late rally of 23 by Yogesh Nagar – thanks largely to two wickets each from Deccan bowlers Harmeet Singh and Daniel Christian.
Runs came with relative ease for the Chargers – despite the second-over loss of Shikhar Dhawan (eight) – with Sangakkara and Sohal adding a massive 92.
The former Sri Lanka captain quickly overtook Sohal by striking eight boundaries, but after some poor fielding Delhi hit back to dismiss him for 49, caught superbly by Aaron Finch.
Sohal did reach his half-century before eventually falling to Shahbaz Nadeem in the 15th over for Finch’s second catch as Deccan’s hopes of posting a 180-plus score dimmed.
They could make only 39 more – around Christian’s departure for eight – with White playing a useful unbeaten knock of 31 off 25 balls in the closing stages.
Delhi openers Warner and Virender Sehwag (12) started with a flurry of boundaries but it was the captain Sehwag who departed first, followed swiftly by Naman Ojha (two) and Finch (nought).
Warner held the fort to reach 50 in 45 balls and Venugopal Rao supported the 52-run stand well with a gritty 21 before Deccan dismissed them both and Irfan Pathan in the space of five overs.
Needing 44 off 13 deliveries, Nagar raised hope with two huge sixes, but Christian took his wicket in a tight final over to leave Delhi short in the end. (PA Sport)