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Cuttack: Andrew Symonds purple patch continued as he came up with yet another all-round display to steer defending champions Deccan Chargers to a 10-run win over Delhi Daredevils in a thrilling Indian Premier League match on Sunday.
Symonds first scored a brisk 24-ball 35 and then starred with the ball with figures of three for 21, apart from a coming up with a stunning catch to dismiss dangerman Dinesh Karthik, to guide the Chargers home in the match that saw fortunes fluctuating from one team to the other.
With this win, the Hyderabad outfit has recorded its third consecutive victory in the Twenty20 event after losing the tournament opener against Kolkata Knight Riders.
Daredevils, on the other hand, have slumped to their third defeat on the trot from as many as five outings.
For Daredevils, explosive David Warner made a quickfire 57 off 33 balls upfront, while skipper Karthik seemed determined to see his side home with a dangerous-looking 27-ball 46-run innings.
Apart from Symonds, Rohit Sharma too produced an all-round show for the Chargers with vital 45 runs off 30 balls and then captured two crucial wickets for 42 to help his side's cause.
Earlier, Chargers' skipper Adam Gilchrist (24 off 14), Herschelle Gibbs (31 off 26) and T Suman (29 off 19) also chipped with useful contributions to help Chargers post the competitive 171 for six on the board.
Chasing 172 for victory, Daredevils lost the plot towards the end and could only manage 161 for nine wickets after they were provided with a solid foundation by Warner and AB de Villiers (27 off 26) with a 51-run first wicket stand.
The Delhi, however, did not have an ideal start to their innings as they lost dashing opener Virender Sehwag (3) early, caught Gibbs off left-arm spinner Pragyan Ojha.
But Warner looked in a ferocious mood as he murdered the Hyderabad bowlers for four boundaries and as many sixes during his 33-ball essay before he fell prey to a suicidal run out.
De Villiers too followed suit soon clean bowled by Rahul Sharma to see Daredevils in a spot of bother.
But Karthik was in no mood to give up without a fight and he took the Hyderabad bowlers to task, hitting four fours and two sixes during his quickfire innings.
Kathik struck Rahul Sharma for two fours and a six to pick up 17 runs of the 18th over and change the course of the match in Delhi's favour.
However, it was not to be Delhi day as needing 20 off the last two overs Symonds came up with a brilliant reflex catch of his own bowling to dismiss Karthik.
As if that blow was not enough, Amit Mishra edged one to Gilchrist behind the stumps in Symonds' next delivery to shatter Delhi's hopes.
Vaas then cleaned up Yogesh Nagar's stumps in the first ball of the last over with Delhi needing 14 runs for victory.
Earlier, Rohit Sharma and T Suman (29) shared a vital 60-run fifth-wicket stand to give the Chargers bowlers a competitive score to defend after they were in a spot of bother at one stage, losing four top-order batsmen with 103 runs on board.
For Daredevils, Moises Henriques, Dirk Nannes, Mishra, Nagar and Sarabjit Ladda picked up a wicket each.
Daredevils captain Karthik opened the attack with leggie Mishra and electing to bat, it was not an ideal start as the Chargers' lost opener Mohnish Mishra (1) in the first over itself.
Brief scores
Deccan Chargers: 171 for 6 (Rohit 45, Symonds 35)
Delhi Daredevils: 161 for 9 (Warner 57, Karthik 46, Symonds 3-21)
Results: Deccan Chargers won by 10-runs
MOM: Andrew Symonds (Deccan Chargers)
