Date:25/05/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/05/25/stories/2008052554951900.htm

Sport - Cricket

Punjab wins a thriller

Rakesh Rao

MOHALI: A cool-headed Mahela Jayawardene and a determined Piyush Chawla finished the job for Kings XI Punjab against Deccan Chargers.

In the end, the presence of Jayawardene in the middle proved important for the host as he helped soothe Chawla’s nerves who put the finishing touches in the final over to complete a six-wicket victory in the DLF-Indian Premier League (IPL) here on Friday.

The duo also made sure that the good work of openers Shaun Marsh and comeback-man Kumar Sangakkara did not prove futile as Kings XI chased 176 needed for its eighth victory. Marsh once again opened the doors of victory, reaching his fifth IPL half-century.

Marsh was declared Man of the Match. Sangakkara, declared match-fit this morning, dominated the opening-wicket stand of 84 with a 25-ball 50 studded with two sixes and seven boundaries.

The scores: Deccan Chargers: 175 for four in 20 overs.

Kings XI Punjab: S. Marsh c Gibbs b Styris 60, K. Sangakkara c Silva b Rohit 50, Yuvraj Singh c R.P. Singh b Ojha 17, Luke Pomersbach c Rohit b Ojha 13, M. Jayawardene (not out) 14, P. Chawla (not out) 16, Extras (lb-3, w-5): 8; Total (for four wkts. in 19.3 overs): 178.

Fall of wickets: 1-84, 2-117, 3-137, 4-149.

Deccan Chargers bowling: R.P. Singh 3.3-0-37-0, Vijaykumar 2-0-24-0, Rao 2-0-23-0, Styris 4-0-36-1, Rohit 4-0-25-1, Ojha 4-0-30-2.