Deccan Chargers score their third straight win

Cuttack, March 21 : Deccan Chargers produced an all-round performance to beat Delhi Daredevils by 10 runs in their Indian Premier League match here Sunday.

Deccan Chargers, electing to bat, scored 171 for six with significant contributions from the top order. Rohit Sharma was the highest scorer with 45 while Adam Gilchrist (24), Andrew Symonds (35), Herscehlle Gibbs (31) and Tirumalasetti Suman (29 not out) did their bit with the bat.

Daredevils looked comfortably placed at 85 for one in the 11th over, before Deccan Chargers fought their way back into the match with some inspired bowling.

Symonds had a good day with the ball, too, taking three wickets for a mere 21 runs. He was effective in the death overs when Dinesh Karthik (46 off 27 balls) launched an assualt but eventually fell to the guile of the Australian. Daredevils finished at 161 for nine in 20 overs.

It was the Delhi team's third loss in a row following their home defeats to Mumbai Indians and Chennai Super Kings. Deccan Chargers, on the other hand, recorded their third straight win.

Daredevils' chase looked on track with David Warner (57 off 33 balls) and AB de Villiers (27) sharing 51 runs after the fall of Virender Sehwag (3). But Warner, who hit four fours and as many sixes, was run out in the 11th over that allowed Deccan Chargers to come back into the match.

Daredevils skipper Karthik, however, was not the one to give up and he wielded his willow to good effect.

Karthik, who struck four fours and two sixes in his 27-ball innings, gave Daredevils hope when he hit young leg-spinner Rahul Sharma for some lusty blows in the 18th over and brought the visitors back into fray.

But Symonds bowled a brilliant 19th over in which he grabbed a one-handed catch of Karthik after being hit for a four off the first ball. Symonds then got Amit Mishra caught behind in the next ball and Chargers had the match in control.

Chaminda Vass stood up to his reputation and took two wickets in the last over and put it well beyond the Daredevils' grasp.