Deccan charge ahead

The victory took Adam Gilchrists side to fourth spot with 14 points,and they next play a virtual quarterfinal match against the Delhi Daredevils. Although Rohit walked away with the Man of the Match award,it was Mahela Jayawardenes unbeaten 93 for Punjab that had the crowds asking for more.

Gilchrist won the toss and decided to bowl on a pitch that had something in it for both the bowlers and the batsmen. They struck early with Punjab opener Shaun Marshs wicket in the first over caught behind off Ryan Harris for nought but struggled thereon as the Sri Lankan pair of Jayawardene and captain Kumar Sangakkara held fort with an 88-run second wicket stand.

Although Sangakkara fell soon after reaching his half century caught at short fine leg after a failed attempt at the reverse-sweep Jayawardene powered on,smashing RP Singh for five consecutive fours in the 17th over. In the final over,he again unleashed his fury on RP,smashing 12 runs off the first three balls,but a single off the fourth kept him off strike for the rest of the over.