Deccan Chargers lose to Trinidad and Tobago, fail to qualify for Super Eight
Hyderabad, Oct 15 - Indian Premier League champions Deccan Chargers were knocked out of the Champions League Twenty20 after going down to Trinidad and Tobago by three runs in a last-over thriller here Wednesday.
Chasing a target of 150, Deccan Chargers lost their way in the death overs and finished at 146 for nine.
It was the second loss of Chargers in the tournament. England side Somerset and Trinidad and Tobago qualified for the Super Eight stage.
The see-saw match was set-up for a final over finish with Deccan Chargers needing eight runs, but Dwayne Bravo (3-24) once again gave the finishing touches, bowling a perfect last over to see the team through.
The first two balls went for three runs, before Bravo bowled RP Singh with his fourth delivery. Fidel Edwards was run out in the next ball and Tirumalsetti Suman (9 not out) was left to score 5 runs in the last ball.
Chargers were going strong when skipper Adam Gilchrist (51) and Rohit Sharma (25) were batting. The duo helped the home team recover from three for 30 and added 55 runs in quick time. Gilchrist stroked six fours and two sixes before Kieron Pollard took a brilliant diving catch at the deep to end his innings. Sharma followed next and the Trinidad and Tobago came back into the match.
Venugopal Rao made a quickfire 30 off 19 balls hitting two sixes, but his and Scot Styris' dismissal once again tilted the scales in favour of Trinidad and Tobago.
Trinidad skipper Darren Ganga made some smart bowling changes that worked well for the team. The visitors kept up their pressure on the lower order batsmen who looked a bundle of nerves.
Earlier Trinidad and Tobago, asked to bat first, put up a challenging total with some vital contributions from the lower order.
William Perkins made 32 and together with Darren Bravo put up 34 runs for the second wicket. Denesh Ramdin (15), Pollard (31 off 14 balls) and Sherwin Ganga all chipped in to give a late thrust to the score. R P Singh took three for 32. (IANS)