DHARAMSHALA, India — Pace bowlers Morne Morkel and Umesh Yadav shared seven wickets as Delhi Daredevils geared up for the playoffs with a resounding six-wicket victory over Kings XI Punjab in the Indian Premier League Saturday.
Morkel grabbed 4-20 and Yadav took 3-19 as Punjab was restricted to 141-8 after being put in to bat on a lively track at Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium. Delhi scored 145-4 in 18.2 overs with opener David Warner slamming a 44-ball 79 with four sixes and 10 fours.
The task was made easy for Delhi as Warner started aggressively, hitting a six off the first delivery he faced from Praveen Kumar and later hitting other seamer Parvinder Awana for 23 runs in an over, including three sixes.
Warner was dropped by Gurkeerat Singh at the square-leg boundary off the last ball of that over from Awana, when on 46, and continued to unleash a barrage of boundaries.
Earlier, Morkel and Yadav ripped through the Punjab batting and the home side was reduced to 20-4 in the sixth over before fighting back. Punjab, needing a win to stay in contention, finished with eight wins and eight losses.
The result also meant Mumbai Indians went through along with Delhi and Kolkata Knight Riders. Two-time defending champion Chennai Super Kings and Royal Challengers Bangalore remain in contention for the fourth spot.
Elsewhere, Kolkata scored an easy 34-run win over Pune Warriors to ensure second place with 10 wins, five losses and a no-result.
Bangaladesh all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan (42) and New Zealander Brendon McCullum (41) helped Kolkata score 136-4 after electing to bat on a slow pitch at Subrata Roy Sahara Stadium in Pune.
Hasan came back to take two wickets as Pune, already out of playoffs contention, managed to score only 102-8. — AP
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