Sangkarra strikes form as Deccan Chargers beat Pune Warriors by 13 runs

Form can be temporary but class permanent, writes The Times Of India, that after making a tough and courageous decision to sit out of the game against Mumbai on Sunday, Kumar Sangakkara conjured up a scintillating half-century to set the tone for Hyderabad’s 13-run win against Pune at the Barabati Stadium.

“Cameron White — carrying on from where he left off in the earlier clash on Thursday — and Sangakkara turned the heat on Pune with a well-calculated assault that helped them garner 89 runs from the 15th to the 19th over as Hyderabad reached a competitive 186 for four. In the process, the duo registered the season’s highest partnership of 157. Those four overs made all the difference,” says the TOI report.

“Pune, who had lost their earlier game against Hyderabad, needed a superlative effort to pull off a win on a wicket that was a bit on the slower side. Pune lost Manish Pandey to the first ball but Michael Clarke (41) and Sourav Ganguly (45) steadied the ship with a 90-run stand. However, both fell in the space of six balls to put Pune on the back foot. Steven Smith struck an unbeaten 47 but the effort was not sufficient as the Hyderabad player held their nerves to pull off a face-saving win. In the end, Pune managed 173 for five off their quota,” adds TOI.

The Tribune adds that the key was the 18th and 19th over of the Chargers innings when Sangakkara and White took 25 runs each to consolidate their position. “It was 40-year-old Pune skipper Sourav Ganguly who was clobbered for 25 runs in the 18th over which changed the complexion of the match. In reply, the Warriors lost Manish Pandey with nothing on the board in the very first ball of the innings, but Sourav Ganguly (45 off 40) and Clarke (41 off 31) kept alive the visiting team's chances by scoring at a brisk pace. Steven Smith top-scored for the visitors with a well-made 47 off 27 balls but his effort went in-vain,” adds The Tribune.

Meanwhile The Hindu writes that Pune Warriors' brave attempt to avenge the home defeat at the hands of Deccan Chargers came unstuck as Kumar Sangakkara (74) and Cameron White (74) powered the team to a 13-run victory.

“After Chargers put on 186 for four, Warriors too lost Manish Pandey in the first ball of the innings — a rare occurrence of both team's first wicket failing in the first ball in any tournament, but recovered through Michael Clarke (41, 31b, 7x4) and Sourav Ganguly (45, 40b, 5x4, 1x6). The second wicket association produced 90 runs in 11.3 overs. Steven Smith and Robin Uthappa produced another partnership of 62 runs for the fourth wicket in 6.1 overs but the target proved too stiff for the Warriors. Smith indulged in some lusty hitting to score 47 not out (27b, 3x4, 2x6) but in the end his efforts proved in vain,” adds The Hindu.

Captain Ganguly blamed the 50 runs his team conceded in two overs for the defeat.