He no longer plays for Australia, but Andrew Symonds showed he is still one of the most dangerous players around.
In fact, he forms an integral part of the Deccan Chargers middle order and proved that yet again with a cracking knock of 53.
Adam Gilchrist had given the team a flying start with 33 from 12 balls, but his dismissal saw Kings XI Punjab fightback by claiming with regular wickets.
VVS Laxman was forced to retire hurt, while Herschelle Gibbs (23), Rohit Sharma (1) and Anirudh Singh (0) fell in the space of two overs and Deccan suddenly seemed to have lost the plot.
But Symonds, as he had done so often for Australia, kept his composure and gradually set about steering Deccan towards a big total.
He took a fancy to old foe S Sreesanth, whom he carted 16 runs in his third over. He then sent a slower delivery over long-on for a six, and followed it up with two successive boundaries through fine leg. He was finally dismissed for 53, when he holed Yuvraj Singh to the long-on fielder after hitting three boundaries and three sixes in his 38-ball knock.
His contribution was not only restricted batting. He also chipped in with a useful spell with the ball. The all-rounder bowled four miserly overs for 22 runs during which he took the wicket of Mahela Jayawardene.
Symonds was also a livewire in the field, taking two good catches in the deep, and constantly egged his bowlers on whenever he fielded close in.
If Deccan Chargers finally managed to break their duck at home, the credit should go to Symonds.
