Delhi Daredevils captain Gautam Gambhir and his opposite number Kumar Sangakkara of Kings XI Punjab at the toss along with Punjab team co-owner Preity Zinta, television commentator Harsha Bhogle and match referee S Venkatraghavan in Mohali, on Saturday.

Electing to bowl, Delhi pacers gave them a good start as Punjab were reduced to 44 for four in the seventh over.

Gautam Gambhir led from the front with a cracking half-century and Dirk Nannes shone with the ball to help Delhi Daredevils beat Kings XI Punjab by five wickets.

Photograph: Getty Images

Farveez Maharoof was hit for 18 runs in his second over during which he smashed for two sixes, one each by Ravi Bopara and Kumar Sangakkara.

But Maharoof had his revenge in the next over when he rocked the hosts with the wickets of Sangakkara (17) and Yuvraj Singh (4) in his third over.

England's Ravi Bopara rescued Punjab with a fighting half-century.

Bopara completed his half-century from 41 deliveries, having hit seven boundaries and a six, with a single on the leg side in the 13th over.

His innings came to a tame end when he hit a full toss from Yo Mahesh straight to Mithun Manhas at square leg after scoring 56 from 48 balls, laced with seven boundaries and a six.

S Sreesanth hit a few useful boundaries in the final overs to hit 15 from 14 balls as Kings XI Punjab finished on 142 for nine in their 20 overs.

S Sreesanth came up with a dream over as he claimed the wickets of the dangerous Virender Sehwag followed by Tillakaratne Dilshan to leave Delhi in some early trouble.

Sehwag (8) was beaten by the outswinger from Sreesanth which he edged to Mahela Jayawardene as he attempted to drive through the off-side. Dilshan fell for a three-ball duck when he flicked a full delivery straight to Bisla at short midwicket as Delhi were reduced to 10 for two after two overs.

Punjab bowlers managed to keep things in check as they dried up the boundaries.

The pressure paid off when AB de Villiers was run out for 7 after he was sent back by Gambhir trying for a quick single as Delhi were reduced to 45 for four in the eighth over.

Gambhir also survived a close run out attempt by Bopara before Delhi reached 61 for three at the halfway stage, needing 82 from the last ten overs.

In his first match as the Delhi captain, Gambhir showed he got what it takes to be a top leader.

Despite the regular fall of wickets from the other end, Gambhir showed great composure with a mature knock of 72 from 54 balls to guide his team home. He was dismissed in the final over but by then the match was firmly in Delhi's grasp.

Mithun Manhas finished the innings with a boundary to remain unbeaten on a quick 31 from 24 deliveries as Delhi reached 146 for five to win with just one delivery to spare.