A quickfire half-century by Sunny Sohal and an equally useful knock of 49 from captain Kumar Sangakkara helped Deccan Chargers register a 16-run victory over Delhi Daredevils in their Indian Premier League match here today. Opting to bat, Sohal (62, 41b, 8X4, 1X6) and Sangakkara (49, 35b, 8X4, 1X6) put on a 92-run stand for the second wicket to set a solid platform and post a competitive total of 168 for four, even though some disciplined bowling by the Daredevils at the end managed to put brakes on the Deccan scoring rate.
But ultimately the total proved to be too big for the hosts, who seemed hardly in the race, losing wickets at regular intervals here at the Ferozshah Kotla ground.
Even as David Warner (51, 48b 5x4 1x6) scored a valuable half-century and Yogesh Nagar (23, 11b 1x4 2x6) played a little cameo at the end but that was never going to be enough as the home team finished at 152 for seven in their allotted 20 overs.
Image: Deccan Chargers batsmen Kumar Sangakkara, left, and Sunny Sohal share a moment during an Indian Premier League (IPL) cricket match between Delhi Daredevils and Deccan Chargers in New Delhi, India, Tuesday, April 19, 2011.
For the Hyderabad outfit, Harmeet Singh (two for 27) and Daniel Christian (two for 38) provided important breakthroughs while Ojha, Amit Mishra and Shikhar Dhwan chipped in with a wicket apiece.
Chasing a target of 169, Daredevils captain Virender Sehwag came out firing all cylinders in his bid to give his team a positive start as he struck four boundaries off Christian's over, while Warner also gave him good company at the other end but the former's stay at the wicket was cut short by Harmeet Singh for a seven-ball 12.
And the next two overs saw the hosts being pushed on to the back foot when Christian and Harmeet accounted for the wickets of Naman Ojha and Aaron Finch to leave the Daredevils reeling at 38 for three.
While Christian trapped Ojha (2) leg before, Harmeet dismissed Finch for a nought as he edged one to Sangakkara.
Image: Deccan Chargers bowler Harmeet Singh, right, celebrates with team members after taking the wicket of Delhi Daredevils Virender Sehwag, left, during an Indian Premier League (IPL) cricket match between Delhi Daredevils and Deccan Chargers in New Delhi, India, Tuesday, April 19, 2011.
It was then up to Warner and Venugopal Rao (21) to consolidate the innings and the duo managed to take the team to 78 for three after 10 overs.
But after putting on 52 runs for the fourth wicket with Warner, Rao, while trying to hit a six hit one straight down Christian's throat off Amit Mishra's bowling.
At the other end, although Warner managed to hold his ground but just after completing his half-century, he gave a simple catch to Ravi Teja off part-time spinner Shikhar Dhawan's bowling, after being dropped in the previous over.
Irfan Pathan's horrible IPL continued as he was quickly back in the dressing room, leaving the Daredevils with an uphill task.
Image: Delhi Daredevils player David Warner, right, bats as Deccan Chargers Kumar Sangakkara looks on during an Indian Premier League (IPL) cricket match between Delhi Daredevils and Deccan Chargers in New Delhi, India, Tuesday, April 19, 2011.
Yogesh Nagar and James Hopes (17 off 14 balls) gave some hope to the home crowd, hitting a few big ones but could not take the team home.
Earlier, Sohal opened the innings with a four through the covers, while Shikhar Dhawan added two more boundaries of consecutive balls of Ashok Dinda's over -- the very first over of the match -- to set the rhythm.
But Pathan had other plans and he managed to get the first breakthrough for the home team when Dhawan (8) dragged one back on to his stumps trying to slash an away going delivery.
Image: Deccan Chargers bowler Pragyan Ojha, left, celebrates after taking the wicket of Delhi Daredevils Irfan Pathan, right, during an Indian Premier League (IPL) cricket match between Delhi Daredevils and Deccan Chargers in New Delhi, India, Tuesday, April 19, 2011
Captain Sangakkara wasted no time and almost immediately got into the action and along with Sohal, kept stealing a boundary or two every over to maintain a good run-rate, even though Pathan and Morne Morkel, who replaced Dinda after his expensive first over, managed to keep it reasonably tight.
But moment left-arm spinner Shahbaz Nadeem was introduced into the attack, Sangakkara straight away punished the youngster with a lofted six over the deep mid-wicket and two boundaries to place the Chargers in a good position.
Sangakkara and Sohal's attacking approach coupled with Delhi's fielding lapses enabled the Hyderabad outfit to reach 90 for one at the end of 10 overs.
Image: Deccan Chargers Kumar Sangakkara hits a six during an Indian Premier League (IPL) cricket match between Delhi Daredevils and Deccan Chargers in New Delhi, India, Tuesday, April 19, 2011.
But ultimately the total proved to be too big for the hosts, who seemed hardly in the race, losing wickets at regular intervals here at the Ferozshah Kotla ground.
Even as David Warner (51, 48b 5x4 1x6) scored a valuable half-century and Yogesh Nagar (23, 11b 1x4 2x6) played a little cameo at the end but that was never going to be enough as the home team finished at 152 for seven in their allotted 20 overs.
Image: Deccan Chargers batsmen Kumar Sangakkara, left, and Sunny Sohal share a moment during an Indian Premier League (IPL) cricket match between Delhi Daredevils and Deccan Chargers in New Delhi, India, Tuesday, April 19, 2011.
For the Hyderabad outfit, Harmeet Singh (two for 27) and Daniel Christian (two for 38) provided important breakthroughs while Ojha, Amit Mishra and Shikhar Dhwan chipped in with a wicket apiece.
Chasing a target of 169, Daredevils captain Virender Sehwag came out firing all cylinders in his bid to give his team a positive start as he struck four boundaries off Christian's over, while Warner also gave him good company at the other end but the former's stay at the wicket was cut short by Harmeet Singh for a seven-ball 12.
And the next two overs saw the hosts being pushed on to the back foot when Christian and Harmeet accounted for the wickets of Naman Ojha and Aaron Finch to leave the Daredevils reeling at 38 for three.
While Christian trapped Ojha (2) leg before, Harmeet dismissed Finch for a nought as he edged one to Sangakkara.
Image: Deccan Chargers bowler Harmeet Singh, right, celebrates with team members after taking the wicket of Delhi Daredevils Virender Sehwag, left, during an Indian Premier League (IPL) cricket match between Delhi Daredevils and Deccan Chargers in New Delhi, India, Tuesday, April 19, 2011.
It was then up to Warner and Venugopal Rao (21) to consolidate the innings and the duo managed to take the team to 78 for three after 10 overs.
But after putting on 52 runs for the fourth wicket with Warner, Rao, while trying to hit a six hit one straight down Christian's throat off Amit Mishra's bowling.
At the other end, although Warner managed to hold his ground but just after completing his half-century, he gave a simple catch to Ravi Teja off part-time spinner Shikhar Dhawan's bowling, after being dropped in the previous over.
Irfan Pathan's horrible IPL continued as he was quickly back in the dressing room, leaving the Daredevils with an uphill task.
Image: Delhi Daredevils player David Warner, right, bats as Deccan Chargers Kumar Sangakkara looks on during an Indian Premier League (IPL) cricket match between Delhi Daredevils and Deccan Chargers in New Delhi, India, Tuesday, April 19, 2011.
Yogesh Nagar and James Hopes (17 off 14 balls) gave some hope to the home crowd, hitting a few big ones but could not take the team home.
Earlier, Sohal opened the innings with a four through the covers, while Shikhar Dhawan added two more boundaries of consecutive balls of Ashok Dinda's over -- the very first over of the match -- to set the rhythm.
But Pathan had other plans and he managed to get the first breakthrough for the home team when Dhawan (8) dragged one back on to his stumps trying to slash an away going delivery.
Image: Deccan Chargers bowler Pragyan Ojha, left, celebrates after taking the wicket of Delhi Daredevils Irfan Pathan, right, during an Indian Premier League (IPL) cricket match between Delhi Daredevils and Deccan Chargers in New Delhi, India, Tuesday, April 19, 2011
Captain Sangakkara wasted no time and almost immediately got into the action and along with Sohal, kept stealing a boundary or two every over to maintain a good run-rate, even though Pathan and Morne Morkel, who replaced Dinda after his expensive first over, managed to keep it reasonably tight.
But moment left-arm spinner Shahbaz Nadeem was introduced into the attack, Sangakkara straight away punished the youngster with a lofted six over the deep mid-wicket and two boundaries to place the Chargers in a good position.
Sangakkara and Sohal's attacking approach coupled with Delhi's fielding lapses enabled the Hyderabad outfit to reach 90 for one at the end of 10 overs.
Image: Deccan Chargers Kumar Sangakkara hits a six during an Indian Premier League (IPL) cricket match between Delhi Daredevils and Deccan Chargers in New Delhi, India, Tuesday, April 19, 2011.
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