Daredevils thank Hopes for victory

Pune looked set for their third straight win of the campaign as half-centuries from Jesse Ryder (60) and skipper Yuvraj Singh (66) got them to 187 for the loss of just five wickets.

And Yuvraj threatened further with his figures of 4-29 – after a solid start from Delhi openers David Warner (46) and Virender Sehwag (37) – but gutsy knocks from Venugopal Rao (31) and Aaron Finch (25) got them over the line with four balls to spare.

Batting first, Pune opener Graeme Smith (12) was lucky to survive a second-over caught-behind appeal from Ashok Dinda as replays showed a slight edge.

Smith could not build much though as Dinda had him caught off a pull shot but Pune had little to worry about thanks to Ryder’s highlight-filled innings coming off just 27 deliveries.

His partnership with Mithun Manhas (20) yielded 54 before both batsmen fell in successive overs with the score on 98.

Robin Uthappa then left for just four, but Yuvraj took charge of a 29-run stand with Mohnish Mishra (seven) and his slog shots crafted an effective late surge that saw 26 come off the final over.

Delhi’s start was emphatic, with Warner and skipper Sehwag making light work of Pune’s pace attack to steer the total to 75.

Pune hit back to dismiss both openers followed by a double blow off Yuvraj’s first over that got rid of Irfan Pathan (14) and Naman Ojha (first-ball duck).

Daredevils’ woes deepened with Matthew Wade’s wicket but Venugopal Rao (31) and Aaron Finch (25) dug in to bring up the 150 and set up an exciting finish.

With 21 needed off 12 balls, Yuvraj snared Finch and Rao around a 13-run blitz before James Hopes smashed a six and a boundary off Ryder to clinch the win.