Deccan send Bangalore crashing out

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Cricket365
May 21, 2012

Deccan mustered an uncharacteristically spirited performance to secure a nine-run victory over the Royal Challengers and with it end Bangalore's run in the 2012 IPL.

Up against a side that had only managed three victories in 15 attempts prior to the encounter, the Royal Challengers would certainly have fancied their chances, especially when they restricted their hosts to just 132.

However, a fighting effort in the field saw Kumar Sangakkara's men pull off an unlikely win.

Having been put into bat, Deccan were in trouble early, with Shikhar Dhawan,
Akshath Reddy and Cameron White back in the hut with only 20 on the board.

Sangakkara's lean run continued as he soon followed the trio back to the pavilion for 15. Struggling at 51 for four with more than 11 overs done and dusted, it appeared Deccan were all but finished.

JP Duminy had other ideas though as he hammered 74 off 53 to help propel the Chargers to 132 for seven in their allotted overs. Hardly a handsome score, but at least the Royal Challengers would be made to break a sweat.

Chris Gayle looked to determined to ensure he was the only man who did so as he walloped 24 off the second over of the innings. However, Dale Steyn had him edging back onto his stumps in the next over to see the dangerous West Indian depart for 27.

Tillakaratne Dilshan (4) made little impact and when Saurabh Tiwary had to leave the field with an injured hamstring soon after it was game on.

Amit Mishra picked up two wickets in four balls – including that of the dangerous AB de Villiers – and suddenly the game was Deccan's to lose.

They almost did just that, with Virat Kohli's 42 and 32 from Tiwary on his return put the visitors back on course.

But Deccan found an unlikely hero in Ashish Reddy who had Kohli caught in the deep and then removed Vinay Kumar and Muttiah Muralitharan to ensure that it was the Chargers who will be celebrating long into the night.

The result means that Deccan do not finish bottom of the IPL table, with that 'honour' falling to the Pune Warriors. The Chennai Super Kings will certainly be breathing a sigh of relief as Deccan's win means that they, and not Bangalore, qualify for the play-offs.