Daredevils knock Kings-XI out of IPL

AGENCIES

DHARMASALA: David Warner played an electrifying knock to take Delhi Daredevils to a six-wicket victory over Kings-XI Punjab today and top the group stage in the Indian Premier League.

Kings-XI, meanwhile, were knocked out of the tournament. Warner smashed 79 off 44 as Daredevils chased down the 142-run target with 10 balls to spare. Umesh Yadav (3-19) and Morne Morkel (4-20) made good use of the seaming conditions in Kings XI innings that ended at 141-8.

Daredevils wrapped up the league stage with 22 points from 16 games and will get two chances in the play-offs for making the final on May 27.

It seemed like a tricky chase for Daredevils but Warner single-handedly got the team over the line. The Australian, who hit four sixes and 10 fours, was particularly severe on speedster Parwinder Awana, slamming him for 23 in an over.

Earlier, Siddharth Chitnis (38), Azhar Mahmood (36) and Gurkeerat Singh (26) led Kings-XI's recovery after they were reduced to 20-4 in the first six overs. The batsmen were found wanting against the express pace of Morkel and Yadav early on.

Yadav got rid of Mandeep Singh (0) on the first ball of his spell with the batsman feeling for the swinging delivery, edging it straight to Naman Ojha. His other two crucial dismissals were Kings-XI skipper Adam Gilchrist (9) and David Hussey (3).

Chitnis and Mahmood resurrected the innings with a 57-run stand for the fifth wicket. Mahmood struggled for runs initially but changed gears later on. The 21-year-old Gurkeerat Singh once again did his bit with the bat, cracking 26 off 11. The home team could have got a bit more, had it not been for Morkel, who struck thrice in the 19th over.