Deccan Chargers Maul Super Kings

Adam Gilchrist had a promise to keep. “We will do justice to the inspiring name you provided the team,” Gilchrist had said to S. Nandakumar who had won the ‘Predict the name’ contest and he did just that.

Gilchrist helped keep the Super Kings down to 144 with some inspired and imaginative leadership and then launched the chase with a stroke filled 54 from 36 balls. Chargers reached the target in 18 overs with seven wickets in hand.

Rohit Sharma, who made a polished 23 also claimed the Orange Cap during the course of his innings for the highest aggregate in the tournament.

The chase was anything but smooth at the start as Makhaya Ntini and Manpreet Gony did not allow a free run for the openers.

Gilchrist bided his time while Gibbs, who charged Ntini with a six over longon, fell shortly checking his drive off Gony, who held a smart catch on his follow through.

The first five overs produced only 30 runs. Gilchrist took full toll of the last power play over. A six over mid-wicket was followed by a punch to long on for four. The next delivery was deposited over the Chargers dug out that sent his own mates scurrying for cover.

Gilchrist was smartly snapped at point by Badrinath of Morkel. It gave the hosts a ray of hope. Rohit ensured no such hiccups with a solid 48-run stand that literally sealed the match. Rohit was dismissed when he holed out towards the end but Afridi, who had had a quiet tournament, collected 20 runs in four balls with two massive sixes in the 18th over that ushered in an emphatic win for the Chargers.

In a match where they had to win to keep the semifinal hopes alive, Deccan were charged from the start. P.

Vijaykumar started from the pavilion end with a very good first over where he accounted for Parthiv Patel with a well-directed bouncer.

M.S. Dhoni was kept quiet by Pragyan Ojha who was equal to the task when Dhoni stepped out to him.

The left-arm spinner held his length well that disallowed Dhoni to swing through the arc. Chennai could manage only 86 in 15 overs. Ojha troubled Dhoni right through his innings and the dismissal of the captain broke the back of the Super Kings.