CUTTACK 21-Mar-2010 121
Australian all-rounder Andrew Symonds` superb performance guided defending champions Deccan Chargers to a fighting 10-run win over Delhi Daredevils in their fouth match of the Indian Premier League at Barabati Stadium here today. He hit a 24-ball 35 and followed it with a three-wicket haul to win his second successive man of the match award. This was the third win in a row for Deccan Chargers and third successive defeat for Delhi Daredevils. The Hyderbad side is now sharing the top spot in the league table with Royal Challengers Bangalore, securing six points from four matches. The win also improved Deccan Chargers’ head-to-head win-loss recond against Delhi Daredevils to 2-4.
Chasing competitive target of 172, Delhi Daredevils rode on David Warner’s electrifying half-century to stay on course for victory. After the cheap dismissal of dangerman Virender Sehwag, Warners compile 51 runs for the second wicket with AB de Villiers (27) to help Delhi bounce back into the game. But a freak run out incident ended Warner’s valiant effort.
Stand-in skipper Dinesh Karthik, however, kept Delhi’s hope alive with a 27-ball 46. But in the dramatic last two overs, Delhi lost the match as four wickets fell for only two runs. Symonds started turn-around, taking a brilliant one-handed catch of his own bowling to send Karthik back. In his next ball, he had Amit Mishra caught by Gilchrist. Needing 14 runs in the last over, Delhi Daredevils lost two wickets in successive balls to hand the opposition another win.
