New Delhi: Comeback kings Deccan Chargers once again turned in a tremendous effort to beat the Delhi Daredevils by 11 runs at Feroz Shah Kotla ground here and book their place in the semis.
Lead by the frugal Pragyan Ojha (2-16), the Chargers ensured they got the job done despite some tense moments in the final overs.
The Daredevils required 17 off the last over, but the experienced Chaminda Vaas held his own.
It was down to Paul Collingwood (51*) in the end but the Englishman couldn’t quite make it happen for the home side. The Daredevils chase began on a sour note on Sunday night with Rohit Sharma snapping up two marvelous catches to see the back of David Warner and Virender Sehwag.
Tillakaratne Dilshan (11), Gautam Gambhir (4) and Mithun Manhas (23) failed to rise the occasion as the middle order simply capitulated. Delhi struggled through the middle overs and they paid for it in the end as they were restricted to a paltry 134/7.
The Deccan Chargers’ innings looked doomed from the beginning as skipper Adam Gilchrist continued is awful form with the bat sending an Ashish Nehra delivery to mid-off. Their predicament worsened once Umesh Yadav broke through the defense of in-form Charger T Suman.
Yadav appeared to be Deccan’s nemesis as he went on to dismiss Rohit Sharma (11) in the sixth over. But someone had to stand up and be counted for the away side and it was Andrew Symonds once again who steadied the ship. His attacking game in the circumstances bore rich dividends - he shocked the Dardevils into submission.
But Amit Mishra struck just at the right time to stem the run flow. Andrew Symonds didn’t quite middle it as it went straight into the hands of Mithun Manhas at long-off. With the top batsmen back in the dug-out, the Daredevils tightened the screws while the Chargers moved up to 145/7.
It’s five on five for the Chargers who will look to continue their good form in the semis where they face the Mumbai Indians. Delhi Daredevils have bowed out of the competition coming close to the finishing line thanks to Collingwood’s brave campaign right at the end.