Sohal and Sangakkara pilot Deccan Chargers to victory

Little-known opener Sunny Sohal hit a half-century and Kumar Sangakkara made a solid 49 to set up Deccan Chargers’ 16-run win over Delhi Daredevils in the Indian Premier League on Tuesday.

Sohal top-scored with an impressive 62 as Deccan posted a competitive 168-4 before restricting Delhi to 152-7 for their second victory in five matches of the Twenty20 tournament.

Australian David Warner scored a 48-ball 51 with the help of one six and five fours for Delhi, who suffered their third defeat in four games. He added 52 for the fourth wicket with Venugopal Rao (21).

Seamer Harmeet Singh bagged two crucial wickets, including that of skipper Virender Sehwag (12), to put Delhi under pressure, while Australian paceman Daniel Christian finished with 2-38.

Yogesh Nagar (23) and Australian James Hopes (17 not out) were the other main scorers for Delhi.

Sohal, who smashed a six and a four off successive balls from South African fast bowler Morne Morkel, earlier put on 92 for the second wicket with skipper Sangakkara, who hit one six and eight fours in his 35-ball knock.

Sri Lankan Sangakkara looked set to reach his half-century before falling in a bid to step up the run-rate. Australian Cameron White helped Deccan cross the 150-mark with a brisk 25-ball 31 not out in the closing overs.

Brief scores:

Deccan Chargers 168-4 in 20 overs (S. Sohal 62, K. Sangakkara 49, C. White 31 not out) beat Delhi Daredevils 152-7 in 20 overs (D. Warner 51, Y. Nagar 23, V. Rao 21; Harmeet Singh 2-27, D. Christian 2-38) by 16 runs.

AFP