Gritty batting followed by a disciplined bowling performance ensured Kings XI Punjab secured a thrilling seven-run victory over Delhi Daredevils at the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium in Dharamsala on Thursday night.
Chasing a strong 172 to win, Delhi were rocked early on losing three wickets for just 12 runs.
Pacers Praveen Kumar and Sandeep Sharma, who accounted for two, bowled brilliant spells.
Virender Sehwag, who came lower down the order, and Mahela Jayawardene began the revival act with the latter taking time to settle down.
Sehwag hammered a 22-ball 30 including six boundaries and was looking strong when he succumbed.
Jayawardene too fell after a sedate 39 from 42 balls with three boundaries and a six.
With Delhi looking out of sorts, Ben Rohrer provided late fireworks to bring back life into the game smashing a 29-ball 49 consisting of four hits to the fence and three over.
Sharma struck again to take his tally to three while Piyush Chawla bagged two as Delhi finished at 164 for 7 in 20 overs.
Earlier, Kings XI Punjab powered to 171 for four in 20 overs thanks to some brilliant batting display from Gilchrist, Marsh and Miller.
Put in to bat first, skipper Gilchrist and Marsh gave Punjab a rousing start sharing 60 runs for the opening wicket.
Gilchrist was the dominant partner scoring a 26-ball 42 with the help of five boundaries and two sixes.
Things slowed for a brief while with Delhi bowlers dominating the show but the arrival of David Miller changed the fortunes for Punjab.
Marsh departed scoring a steady 45 from 44 balls consisting of seven hits to the fence.
Miller and Rajagopal Sathish then fired 47 runs for the fourth wicket in the final four overs.
Miller smashed an unbeaten 44 from just 24 balls peppered with three fours and four sixes while Sathish chipped in with 22 from only 13 deliveries studded with two boundaries and one six.
DELHI DAREDEVILS INNINGS
M Morkel c Miller b Chawla 13 (4b 0x4 2x6)
That's another for Chawla and Punjab celebrate as they score a seven-run victory over Delhi.
B Rohrer b Chawla 49 (29b 4x4 3x6)
Chawla strikes and Rohrer is gone.
Rohrer is fired up. He gets 19 runs off Mahmood's over. Delhi are 150 for 5 in 19 overs.
Two boundaries from that over. But Delhi need more of those. Delhi are 122 for 5 in 17 overs.
M Jayawardene c Vohra b Sandeep Sharma 39
Sharma takes his third wicket. Delhi in more trouble.
Delhi need some big ones now. They are 111 for 4 in 16 overs.
Tall chase for Delhi now. They need 72 off 30 balls. Delhi are 100 for 4 in 15 overs.
It's a good over coming for Delhi. Jayawardene knows it's high time they get cracking if they were to make a match of it. Delhi are 86 for 4 in 14 overs. They need 86 from 36 balls.
Delhi have to begin firing now. They need 100 from 42 balls with the required run rate over 14 now. Delhi are 72 for 4 in 13 overs.
It's becoming increasingly difficult for Delhi. Punjab bowlers doing a great job here. Delhi are 66 for 4 in 12 overs and they need 106 from 48 balls.
V Sehwag c Gilchrist b Awana 30 (22b 6x4 0x6)
Huge blow for Delhi. Sehwag looked settled but is gone edging Awana to Gilchrist. Delhi are 61 for 4 in 11 overs.
Big over for Delhi. 15 runs from that over off Chawla. Delhi are 57 for 3 in 10 overs and they need 115 off 60 balls.
Jayawardene and Sehwag put Delhi back on track. This partnership is very important for Delhi. Jayawardene taking time to settle down but with Sehwag around he need not bother. Delhi are 42 for 3 in 9 overs.
Delhi going steady. They are 28 for 3 in 7 overs.
All eyes on Sehwag now. Delhi need this partnership going after the debacle. Delhi are 21 for 3 in 6 overs.
Nothing seem to be going right for Delhi for now. Punjab pacers ruling the roost as Delhi are 14 for 3 in 5 overs.
D Warner c Marsh b Sandeep Sharma 0 (1b 0x4 0x6)
Sandeep Sharma rocks Delhi to pick up another wicket. He is on a hat trick but its over up as Delhi are reeling at 12 for 2 in 4 overs
I Pathan c Gilchrist b Sandeep Sharma 1 (7b 0x4 0x6)
Delhi in trouble they lose another.
Fine start from Praveen. Wicket in the over as Delhi reach 12 for 1 in 3 overs.
Pathan comes in to bat.
U Chand b Kumar 7 (8b 0x4 1x6)
Super delivery from Praveen Kumar as he bowls Unmukt. Delhi are 11 for 1 in 2.4 overs.
Slow start for Delhi as they are 5 for no loss in 2 overs.
It's Jayawardene and Unmukt opening for Delhi as they reach 1 for no loss in 1 over.
KINGS XI PUNJAB INNINGS
R Sathish c Rohrer b Nehra 22 (13b 2x4 1x6)
Another brilliant over for Punjab. They are looking for a strong finish. One more over to go as they reach 165 for 3 in 19 overs.
Super over for Punjab as Miller blasts two sixes and a boundary off Kaul as Punjab are 148 for 3 in 18 overs.
Punjab can look for a good total. They still have three more overs left and are 130 for 3 in 17 overs.
S Marsh c Pathan b Morkel 45 (44b 7x4 0x6)
That's another big wicket for Delhi. Marsh was looking strong. Punjab are 120 for 3 in 16.2 overs.
Punjab finally get a good over. They get 16 runs as they race to 119 for 2 in 16 overs. Miller and Marsh need to continue the same momentum.
Delhi bowlers continue to keep it tight. Punjab are 103 for 2 in 15 overs.
It's time for Punjab to fire some big ones. They just have another six overs left. Punjab are 97 for 2 in 14 overs.
Only two runs from that. Punjab are 88 for 2 in 13 overs.
Nehra bowls a fine over. It was a big wicket. But Punjab still have some big hitters lined up. They are 86 for 2 in 12 overs.
Azhar Mahmood c Kaul b Nehra 9 (13b 1x4 0x6)
Amazing catch from Kaul in the deep as Mahmood departs. Delhi need them regularly. Punjab are 86 for 2 in 11.3 overs.
Delhi bowlers doing a good job out there. It's been two overs since a boundary for Punjab as they are 81 for 1 in 11 overs. They can take chances now with wickets in hand.
No boundaries in that over, but Punjab still manage to pluck eight runs in that over as they reach 76 for 1 in 10 overs.
Another good over from Yadav except for that last ball boundary. Punjab are 68 for 1 in 9 overs.
Good over for Delhi and Pathan. Punjab are 63 for 1 in 8 overs.
Azhar Mahmood comes in to bat.
A Gilchrist c & b Pathan 42 (26b 5x4 2x6)
Finally Delhi strike. Good bowling from Pathan and a great high catch from him to end the dangerous Gilchrist.
A rather quiet over for Punjab. Good bowling from Yadav. Only three runs from it and Punjab are 56 for no loss in 7 overs.
Gilchrist in cracking form. Two sixes and a boundary this over takes Punjab to 53 for no loss in 6 overs.
That's a good over from Morkel. Just 2 run coming off it. Delhi need such overs to contain Punjab as they reach 36 for 0 in 5 overs.
There's been a huge crowd in this IPL match. There were doubts especially after the spot fixing allegations broke out earlier in the day. It's a positive thing to see such a good turnout.
Punjab continues to go strong. They are 34 for no loss in 4 overs.
Punjab are dealing in boundaries at the moment. The left-handers take Punjab to 24 for 3 overs.
Two boundaries from Marsh to kick off Punjab's innings. They are nine for no loss in 1 over.
So that's three changes for Delhi and one for Punjab. Delhi have included M Morkel, Jayawardene and and Gautam while Punjab have Praveen Kumar.
Playing XI
KXIP: A Gilchrist, S Marsh, Mandeep Singh, Azhar Mahmood, D Miller, M Vohra, R Sathish, P Chawla, P Kumar, P Awana, Sandeep Sharma
DD: M Jayawardene, V Sehwag, U Chand, D Warner, B Rohrer, C Gautam, I Pathan, M Morkel, S Kaul, U Yadav, A Nehra
The sensational arrests of three Rajasthan Royals players, including Shanthakumaran Sreesanth, for spot-fixing will overshadow Match 67 of IPL6 at HPCA Stadium in Dharamsala on Thursday.
Kings XI Punjab will make a last-ditch attempt to stay alive in the race for the play-offs when they take on Delhi Daredevils.
KXIP have six wins from 14 matches – including their seven-wicket victory over the Royal Challengers Bangalore in their previous match.
Delhi Daredevils, with three wins from 14 matches, will be keen to arrest their four-match losing streak and stay off the floor of the table.
In the last meeting between the two teams on 23 April 2013, KXIP registered a convincing five-wicket victory.