Chargers rides into semifinals

Deccan Chargers held its nerves to pull off its fifth win in a row and the reward was a semifinal slot in the DLF Indian Premier League-III.

The 11–run win over Delhi Daredevils came on the strength of a splendid team effort at the Ferozeshah Kotla here on Sunday.

Three sensational catches by Rohit Sharma; A brilliant knock by Man-of-the-Match Andrew Symonds; astute leadership by Adam Gilchrist; a crafty spell by Pragyan Ojha and a tight final over by Chaminda Vaas drove home the essence of collective effort. A pity, Daredevils relied too much on Paul Collingwood to take it home.

It was a knockout match following Chennai Super Kings' entry to the semifinals in the afternoon. Daredevils had its task cut out but the opposition turned out to be determined too. Runs had to be earned the hard way in the second half of the contest as the slow pitch demanded batting skills of a high order.

The scores:

Deccan Chargers: A. Gilchrist c Gambhir b Nehra 10 (9b, 2x4), M. Mishra (run out) 25 (19b, 2x4, 1x6), T. Suman b Yadav 5 (6b, 1x4), Rohit Sharma c Karthik b Yadav 11 (9b, 2x4), A. Symonds c Manhas b Mishra 54 (30b, 3x4, 5x6), M. Marsh c Manhas b Nehra 13 (19b), B. Sumanth (not out) 7 (12b), C. Vaas c Nehra b Collingwood 3 (8b), Rahul Sharma (not out) 14 (8b, 2x4), Extras (lb-2, w-1) 3; Total (for seven wkts. in 20 overs) 145.

Fall of wickets: 1-11, 2-32, 3-47, 4-66, 5-116, 6-121, 7-128.

Delhi Daredevils bowling: Nannes 4-0-22-0, Nehra 4-0-32-2, Yadav 4-0-24-2, Mishra 4-0-28-1, Collingwood 3-0-23-1, Dilshan 1-0-14-0.

Delhi Daredevils: D. Warner c Rohit b Marsh 5 (4b, 1x4), V. Sehwag c Rohit b Vaas 8 (6b, 2x4), T. Dilshan lbw b Harmeet 11 (11b, 2x4), G. Gambhir c Rohit b Ojha 4 (9b), M. Manhas (run out) 23 (22b, 2x4), P. Collingwood (not out) 52 (42b, 1x4, 3x6), D. Karthik b Ojha 1 (2b), A. Mishra b Harmeet Singh 4 (9b), A. Nehra (not out) 21 (16b, 2x4, 1x6), Extras (lb-2, nb-1, w-2) 5; Total (for seven wkts. in 20 overs) 134.

Fall of wickets: 1-9, 2-19, 3-25, 4-39, 5-68, 6-72, 7-86.

Deccan Daredevils bowling: Vaas 4-0-19-1, Marsh 2-0-19-1, Harmeet 4-0-41-2, Symonds 2-0-8-0, Ojha 4-0-16-2, Sharma 4-0-29-0.