Deccan Chargers

IPL: Kings XI Punjab beat Deccan Chargers

The Kings XI Punjab beat the Deccan Chargers by three wickets with a ball to spare as the Indian Premier League moved on to Kimberley for the first game there.

Two Australians making their first appearances in the tournament played starring roles, Andrew Symonds smacking an unbeaten 60 before an unbeaten 14 from Brett Lee helped the Kings XI inch over the line.

Symonds’ innings, from just 36 balls, saw his side post 168 for five after Adam Gilchrist (20) and Tirumalasetti Suman (27) got starts but failed to go on. Symonds came in and blasted four sixes and two fours as Yalaka Venugopal Rao chipped in with 32 in 25 balls. Lee, Shanthakumaran Sreesanth, Piyush Chawla and Wilkin Mota took a wicket apiece.

Kings XI lost wickets early and with big guns Simon Katich (9), Kumar Sangakkara (25) and Yuvraj Singh (18) departing early, they needed something special to get them back in the match. Another sparkling innings from Mahela Jayawardene, who hit one four and three sixes, compiling 43 in 28 balls before Lee hit Ryan Harris for a crucial maximum in the penultimate over to leave his side eight to win in six balls. An early boundary by Chawla off of RP Singh eased the pressure, before Lee flicked the winning run through midwicket.

Kings XI Punjab have 10 points from ten games while Deccan Chargers have 10 points from nine games.

Tags: Deccan Chargers, IPL, Kings XI Punjab