Sanagakara-White stand floors Pune Warriors

Cuttack, May 1: Deccan Chargers put up a clinical show to defeat Pune Warriors India by 13-run in an IPL V encounter at the Barabati stadium here today.

This was their second victory of this edition of the cash-rich league and incidentally both have come against Sourav Ganguly led side.

The home team rode on a record third wicket stand off 157-between Kumara Sanagakara and Cameroon White to post a huge toatal of 186/4.

Their bowlers ensured that the rollicking effort of the willow wielders was not wasted by restricting Pune to 173/5.

Chasing a stiff target of 187, the Warriors received a huge jolt when in-form Manish Pandey went for a first ball duck.

Skipper Ganguly in the company of IPL debutant Michael Clarke held the innings together with a 89-run stand for the second wicket and gave the team some hope.

But the visitors’ pursuit failed to take off once the duo departed in quick succession.

Clarke vigil at the crease came to an end in a dramatic fashion as he was run-out on the same ball on which he was dropped by Sikhar Dhawan at point.

Ganguly followed the Australian in the very next over after being caught by Cameroon White of Dhawan.

Clarke made 41 of 31 balls hitting seven boundaries, while Ganguly struck five bounadries and a six scoring 40 off 45.

Robin Uthappa and Steve Smith hang in till the 19th over, but failed to keep up with the required run-rate.

With 23-run needed from the last six balls, the match was well beyond the reach of team Pune and Young Veer Partap Singh seal the deal for the team Hyderabad by conceding just nine runs in the final over and also adding a wicket to his tally.

Earlier, opting to bat first after Kumar Sangakkara won the toss, the Chargers started on a disastrous note with Parthiv Patel departing on the first ball. Buvaneshwar Kumar inflicted another jolt upon the hosts by cleaning up rusty Sikhar Dhawan(13 from 18 balls). Sangakkara joinedCameroonwhite at the crease and the duo led the revival act of their team with a record 157 run stand for the third wicket.

This was highest partneship for any wickets in the history in this edition of IPL.

Sangakkara, who was subdued until this encounter, broke the schackles in the 15 over by carting Samules for four brilliantly hit boundries. The Sri Lankan collected nineteen runs in that over.

White, who scored a match-winning knock in Pune, contiuned his liking for the Warriors’ bowling.

The Australian was particularly severe on Ganguly as he biffed the Pune skipper for three consecutives sixes and followed it with a boundaries in the 18th over.

The carnage stopped a bit when Asish Nehra dismantle the furniture of Sangakkara.

Sangakkara’s terrific 82-runs knock from 52 ball was adorned with ten boundaris and two towering sixes.

The Warriors, who had stiffled Sangakkara and White for major part of their essay, conceded 95 in the last five overs. His brilliant effort was studded with four boundaries and as my sixes. White smashed a 45-off 74 before becoming a victim of Parnell His brilliant effort was studded with four boundaries and as my sixes.

The Warriors had kept Sangakkara and White for major part of their essay, but lost their way in the last five overs as they conceded 95 in that period.

Ganguly, who went for 39 runs in his three overs, was the most expensive bowlers of the visiting team.

Scoreboard of Pune Warriors innings: M Pandey c Sangakkara b Ankit Sharma     0 M Clarke run out  (Mishra/Patel) 41 S Ganguly c White b Dhawan  45  S Smith not out  47 R Uthappa c sub (DJ Harris) b Ashish Reddy 26  M Manhas c Sangakkara b Pratap Singh 7 M Samuels not out 1 Extras  6 Total  173     Fall of wickets 1-0, 2-90, 3-96 Bowling O M R                W  A Sharma 2 0  9 1 JP Duminy 3 0 25 0  V Pratap Singh                4 0 31 1 DW Steyn 4 0 46 0 A Mishra 3 0 20 0 A Reddy3  0 20 1  S Dhawan 1 0 9 1. (UNI)