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Hyderabad, May 9 (IANS) Kings XI Punjab outplayed Deccan Chargers to clinch a crucial tie by 25 runs in Indian Premier League (IPL) at Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium here Tuesday night. An aggressive knock of 75 by Mandeep Singh and the superb performance by its bowlers helped Kings XI to grab two points to move up the fifth position on the points table and remain in the hunt for a place in the play-offs while Chargers continued to languish at the bottom with their ninth defeat in 12 matches. Playing their first match at the home ground, Chargers came a cropper once again. Chasing a target of 171, the team could score 145 in 20 overs. The visitors failed to break the jinx at the home ground as the visitors dominated the game. Shikhar Dhawan and Cameron White, the two most successful batsmen of Chargers in the tournament so far, fell cheaply after scoring eight runs each while captain Kumar Sangakarra (4) failed yet again Harris (30) was top scorer for the hosts while others gave up without a fight. Harris fell to captain David Hussey in the 11th over. White departed in the same over to leave the home struggling at 71 for four. Four balls later Sangakarra was stumped off Praveen Kumar. In a span of eight deliveries, the Chargers had crumbled. With the asking rate mounting, both Jhunjhunwala and Akshath Reddy tried to cut loose but could not carry on. They added 43 runs for the sixth wicket. Praveen Kumar, Awana and Hussey claimed two wickets each while Praveen Chawla bagged one. Earlier, continuing his good form, Mandeep Singh helped Kings XI to post a competitive target. Put into bat by the hosts, Kings XI were off to a comfortable start with Mandeep Singh and Shaun Marsh adding 55 runs. Marsh, who scored 22 off 20 balls, fell to a flatter from Shikhar Dhawan. Nitin Saini (2) was unlucky to be declared leg before by umpire Dharmasena to a ball missing the leg stump. At 58 for two in eighth over, the visitors were struggling. Mandeep Singh and captain David Hussey (16) added 39 runs for the third wicket before Hussey was caught by Harris off Veer Pratap Singh Holding the fort from one end, Mandeep played some delightful shots all around the wicket. His brilliant knock of 75 included eight boundaries and three hits over the fence. After scoring 100 runs in 12.1 overs, Kings XI were looking set to post a huge total but Mandeep's exit in 16th over followed by Azhar Mahmood's run out put a break on the scoring. Some late charge by Miller (28 not out) helped Kings XI to post a competitive total. Playing without Dale Steyn, their most successful bowler in the tournament, the Chargers were under pressure right from the word go with Veer Pratap Singh going for 18 runs in his first over, the second of the innings. Yet to recover from the injury, Kings XI Punjab's full-time captain Adam Gilchrist had to sit out once again playing the role of a non-playing captain and coach. (Mohammed Shafeeq can be contacted at m.shafeeq@ians.in)
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