Kings XI Punjab beat the Deccan Chargers by 25 runs at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium here. In doing so, the Mohali franchise has thrown its hat into the ring for the already intense race to the playoffs.

The depleted DC were playing without their lead bowler, Dale Steyn, who was replaced by Juan Theron. Invited to bat first by Kumar Sangakkara, the David Hussey-led KXIP built a 55-run partnership for the first wicket, before Shikhar Dhawan castled Shaun Marsh for 22. Nitin Saini who replaced him at the crease, followed him back after adding just two runs to the total. The wicketkeeper-batsman was trapped lbw by Ashish Reddy.

Hussey, who then joined Mandeep Singh in the middle, slammed Amit Mishra’s first delivery over long-off for a six. But the KXIP skipper did not last long and was sent packing by Veer Pratap Singh a while later. After hitting the bowler for a boundary off the first ball of the over, Hussey (16 off 16 balls) was caught at long-off by Daniel Harris off the last delivery.

Although wickets were falling at regular intervals at the other end, Mandeep Singh kept ravaging the Chargers bowlers. But the KXIP opener, who has looked in good nick this season, was finally sent back for 75 (48 balls; 8x4, 3x6) thanks to a slower one from Ashish Reddy.

The big-hitting David Miller came out to the middle and joined the experienced Azhar Mahmood in the 16th over. However, Mahmood was run-out in the very next over. Sangakkara employed the services of seven bowlers, but still missed the depth and experience of the injured Steyn. By collecting 32-runs off the last three overs, Miller (28 off 18 balls) and Siddharth Chitnis (6) helped set a 171-run target.

Praveen Kumar then got the visitor’s an early breakthrough with the key wicket of Shikhar Dhawan (8) in the second over. A while later, Parvinder Awana followed up with the wicket of Parthiv Patel (17 off 13 balls), who had hit him for a four and a six earlier in the over.

When Cameron White came out to join Daniel Harris, the KXIP bowlers did not let the pair settle down. Hussey brought himself on and dealt a double blow by claiming the duo. Harris (30 off 29 balls) was the first to depart as he was caught by Awana. Later, White’s (8) attempted big-hit misfired and he was caught at deep midwicket by Marsh. Back into the attack, Praveen Kumar then followed up with the wicket of Sangakkara (4) to leave the home team reeling at 74 for five. Wicketkeeper Nitin Saini took a brilliant catch to dismiss the DC captain.

It was an uphill task from that point forward for the Chargers. In an attempt to rescue the innings, Akshath Reddy (24 off 13 balls) and Abhishek Jhunjhunwala built a 43-run partnership, before the former fell to a quick stumping by Saini off the bowling of Piyush Chawla. A direct hit from Marsh to run out Jhunjhunwala (19 off 20 balls), in the next over, put KXIP firmly in the driver’s seat. Ashish Reddy (8) was the next to depart, caught by Marsh at square-leg off Awana. In the end, DC could only manage 145 for eight in their 20 overs.

Scorecard

Man of the Match: Mandeep Singh for his match-winning innings of 75 off 48 balls that saw him hit eight fours and three sixes