Shaun Marsh and Kumar Sangakkara hit brisk half-centuries as Kings XI Punjab beat Deccan Chargers by six wickets in an inconsequential Indian Premier League match in Mohali on Friday night.
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Chasing 176 for victory, the duo put on an 84-run stand before Sangakkara departed. The Sri Lankan had a little earlier brought up his third fifty of the tournament off only 23 balls. It included six fours and two sixes. But he was out soon after trying to hoist Rohit Sharma and caught in the deep by Chamara Silva.
Next man Yuvraj (17) hit two fours but failed to get the elevation while attempting another and was caught on the boundary brilliantly by R P Singh off the bowling of Pragyan Ojha.
Marsh, who blasted an unbeaten 85 off 62 balls in his first match in the IPL to give the Punjab team a comfortable victory win while chasing 165 when the teams met in Hyderabad earlier in the tournament, departed soon after, caught by Herschelle Gibbs at long on off the bowling of Scott Styris for 60. The Australian opener's runs came off 46 balls and included three fours and as many sixes.
Luke Pomersbach, who came in at the fall off Marsh's wicket, lasted 12 deliveries but scored a four and six before he was dismissed, caught by Rohit Sharma off Ojha for 13.
Punjab needed 24 off 16 at this stage. Mahela Jayawardene (14 not out) and Piyush Chawla (16 not out) ensured no further damage was done as hosts won for the ninth time in 12 matches to cement second place on the table.
The Hyderabad side, having lost 10 of their 12 matches, remain firmly rooted at the bottom of the table.
Earlier, riding on a spirited opening by skipper Adam Gilchrist, Deccan Chargers posted a competitive 175.
Gilchrist hit a 42-ball 50, aided by six boundaries and a huge six, and also paired up with South African Herschelle Gibbs to carve out an impressive partnership of 79 runs to lay a strong foundation for the Hyderabad team which lost only four wickets in their stipulated 20 overs.
Gibbs scored 44 off 34 balls, before spinner Gagandeep Singh bowled him out after Punjab captain Yuvraj Singh won the toss and put the Deccan Chargers in to bat.
After both the openers were back to the pavilion, the momentum of the Deccan's innings was maintained by Rohit Sharma, who came out with an impressive half century in just 27 deliveries, hitting out three boundaries and four sixes.
Kings XI Punjab bowlers proved expensive, as S Sreesanth and VRV Singh gave 29 and 40 runs respectively.
Besides, Sreesanth and Singh, Ramesh Power and Gagandeep Singh got one wicket each.
