MUMBAI: Deccan Chargers openers Sunny Sohal and Shikhar Dhawan put on a 67-run stand to lead their team to a six-wicket victory over Pune Warriors in a low-scoring IPL game Monday. Sohal made 34 and Dhawan 28 as Deccan Chargers scored 138-4 in 19.2 overs in reply to Pune's 136-9. Deccan, already out of contention for the playoffs with one game left, has 10 points from 13 games. Pune has eight points after 12 games and its slim chance of reaching the knockout stage is over. Earlier, Deccan restricted Pune to 136-9. Legspinner Amit Mishra, left-arm spinner Pragyan Ojha and Daniel Christian claimed two wickets each, while Australian allrounder Mitchell Marsh struck a useful 37 for the losing team. Deccan always had the chase in control after the opening stand lasting 8.1 overs. Sohal struck two sixes and two fours off 28 balls, while Dhawan hit four fours off 25 balls before both openers fell in quick succession. Captain Kumar Sangakkara struck a neat 25 off 21 balls and South Africa allrounder Jean-Paul Duminy made 23 off 25 to keep the team on track. Pune's total gained some respectability with Marsh batting well at No. 8 with 37. Scores: Pune Warriors 136-9 (Mitchell Marsh 37, Yuvraj Singh 23, Manish Pandey 23, Daniel Christian 2-13, Amit Mishra 2-26, Pragyan Ojha 2-35). Deccan Chargers 138-4 (Sunny Sohal 34, Shikhar Dhawan 28, Kumar Sangakkara 25, Jean-Paul Duminy 23, Rahul Sharma 2-25). – Agence France
