IPL 2010: Sharma And Chargers Eliminate Kings XI

IPL 2010: Sharma And Chargers Eliminate Kings XI

Rohit Sharma blasted an unbeaten 68 to help the Deccan Chargers stay on course for a semi-final place.

©REUTERS / Action Images (File photo)

Deccan Chargers 178-5 (Sharma 68no) beat
Kings XI Punjab 174-3 (Jayawardene 93no) by five wickets
Indian Premier League, Dharamsala
Scorecard

The Indian Premier League made its first visit to Dharamsala but Rohit Sharma's unbeaten half-century helped the Deccan Chargers finally end any lingering hopes the Kings XI Punjab had of making the semi-finals with a five-wicket win.

Sharma was unbeaten on 68 in 38 balls as the Chargers closed on 178 for five in reply to the Kings XI score of 174 for three.

The Chargers' decision to bowl first looked a good one early on as the pitch offered lively bounce and movement, Shaun Marsh departing as he received an unplayable delivery first up from Ryan Harris, edging to Adam Gilchrist but the experience of Sri Lankan pair Mahela Jayawardene and Kumar Sangakkara ensured that the Kings XI would go on to make an impressive total.

Jayawardene led the way with a sparkling unbeaten 93 in 62 balls which included 13 fours and two sixes while Sangakkara made 52 in 37 balls before an attempted reverse sweep saw him caught at short third man.

Yuvraj Singh (20) struggled to get into gear but was able to give enough of the strike back to Jayawardene to set the Chargers a stiff target as 78 runs were plundered from the final five overs.

The Chargers made up for a poor death-bowling display with a superb chase which culminated in their return to a top-four position in the table.

Although Gilchrist (9) fell early, spooning a catch as he tried to take on Irfan Pathan, the Chargers rebuilt thanks to Mohnish Mishra's 20 and Tirumalasetti Suman's 43 in 31 balls.

After Mishra was trapped in front by Vikramjeet Malik, Sharma and Suman combined to keep the Chargers in the game, Suman hitting three fours and three sixes and Sharma hitting six fours and three maximums.

Even the late dismissals of Andrew Symonds (4) and Mitchell Marsh (15) did not knock Sharma off his stride and he helped virtually seal the game by taking 18 runs from the penultimate over of the match, bowled by Pathan, and the Chargers eventually closed out the game with five balls to spare.

© Cricket World 2010

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