Stand-in skipper Adam Gilchrist led by example as bottom-placed Deccan Chargers humbled Chennai Super Kings by seven wickets with two overs to spare for their second win in the Indian Premier League here tonight.
Leading the side in absence of injured regular skipper VVS Laxman, Gilchrist won the toss, marshalled his bowlers well and then top-scored for the side with a 36-ball 54 to guide the team to a morale-boosting win.
Chasing 145, Deccan Chargers cantered to 148 for three in 18 overs with Scott Styris (36 not out), Rohit Sharma (23) and Shahid Afridi (20 not out) making impressions with the bat.
Today's loss completed a hat-trick of defeats for the Mahendra Singh Dhoni-led side, which has been clearly hit by the exit of the Australian duo of Matthew Hayden and Mike Hussey, apart from the big-hitting Kiwi Jacob Oram.
The Deccan Chargers did well to restrict the Chennai Super Kings for a modest 144 for seven wickets. And when they set about the task of chasing, though the side lost Herschelle Gibbs (10) early, Gilchrist, batting with a squash ball inside his gloves, looked in tremendous hurry as he went after the Chennai bowlers.
I'm dying to play in IPL: Akhtar
South African Ntini bore the brunt of his wrath in the sixth over when the left-hander hit him for a couple of sixes. Albie Morkel too came in for some harsh treatment as the Deccan Chargers’ score kept swelling. The pacer finally had his moment when Gilchrist went for a fierce cut, which found S Badrinath at point, who was seen wringing his palm in pain.
Gilchrist's brisk 54 came off 36 balls and was studded with seven boundaries besides a couple of sixes.
In-form Rohit played superbly, hitting Joginder Sharma over the sightscreen for a glorious six, following it up with a fierce pull that raced to the boundary.
The prolific youngster was going great guns but the wily Sri Lankan offie Muralitharan eventually foxed him with a doosra and S Badrinath took the skier at long on.
Shahid Afridi was there to complete the formality with a six-ball cameo of 20 that included two sixes and as many fours with Joginder being the victim.
