Delhi Daredevils snatch win from Kings XI Punjab

The Delhi Daredevils sneaked through to a win against the Kings XI Punjab in the third match of the third edition of the Indian Premier League thanks to a gutsy knock by skipper Gautam Gambhir.

Gambhir scored a brilliant 54-ball 72 to ensure Delhi successfully chased down Punjab's less than spectacular total of 142, the team won the match by five wickets. Gambhir, who replaced Virender Sehwag for IPL 3 as skipper raced to his half century in 40 balls smashing nine boundaries and one six. He was ably supported by Mithun Manhas, who finished with an unbeaten 31 off 24 balls. Delhi needed 17 off the last two overs and Gambhir hit Yusuf Abdulla for a huge six before Manhas clobbered a four. Irfan Pathan took out Gambhir in the final over to revive Punjab's hopes. The scores were level with two balls to go but Manhas cracked a square cut to send the ball to the fence.

Delhi had not begun their chase well as Sehwag was dismissed early by Sreesanth, he also hoodwinked Dilshan juts three balls later. By the time AB de Villiers (7) go tout Delhi were in a spot of bother. However Dinesh Karthik and Gambhir steadied Delhi's boat as they added 34 runs before the former holed out to Pathan. Gambhir and Manhas then piled on the vital 61 runs to see Delhi home. Earlier Punjab posted an ordinary score of 142 for nine as Ravi Bopara waged a lone battle (48-ball 56). Kumar Sangakkara (17) and Sreesanth (15) were the only others who could get to double digits. Star bastmen Yuvraj Singh (4) and Mahela JAyawardane (0) failed miserably as the middle order collapsed like a house of cards.