Royal Challengers Bangalore defeated Deccan Chargers by 12 runs at Centurion Park Thursday to seal their place in the Indian Premier League semifinals. Bangalore was in danger of falling to fifth on the table if it suffered a decisive loss, which would have allowed Kings XI Punjab to sneak through to the knockout phase on net run-rate. But 19-year-old opening batsman Manish Pandey hit the second ton of the event, paving the way to 170-4 after Bangalore elected to bat. Deccan reached 158-6 off 20 overs in reply, falling short in its chase despite a valiant effort from Herschelle Gibbs, who returned to form by smashing 60 runs off 43 balls. Deccan, bottom of the table in the first edition of the IPL last year, was already assured of a place in the knockout stages, but dropped to fourth as Bangalore leapfrogged it. Chargers will face table-toppers Delhi Daredevils in the first semifinal in Centurion Friday while Bangalore plays second-placed Chennai Super Kings the following day in Johannesburg. The final will be played at the Wanderers Sunday. Bangalore won the toss and chose to bat, getting off to a good start. Roelof van der Merwe paired with Pandey in a 55-run stand for the second wicket after opener Jacques Kallis made a second-over exit. Van der Merwe was stumped by Adam Gilchrist off Andrew Symonds in the ninth over, contributing 23 off 18 deliveries. But Pandey took control as he smashed 114 runs from 73 balls. In the first match of a double-header, Delhi got back on the winning trail with a four-wicket triumph over lowly Mumbai Indians. Daredevils won the toss and chose to field with Mumbai reaching 165-8 as Dirk Nannes (3-27) spearheaded the Delhi attack. And Delhi skipper Virender Sehwag made his first IPL half-century this season with 50 off 27 balls as they chased down their target with 15 balls to spare. Scores: Bangalore 170-4 in 20 overs (M.Pandey 114 not out, R. van der Merwe 23, V.Kohli 19 not out; P.Ojha 2-32). Deccan 158-6 in 20 overs (H.Gibbs 60, A.Symonds 18, A.Gilchrist 15; B.Akhil 2-18, A.Kumble 2-23) Mumbai 165-8 in 20 overs (A.Rahane 56, S.Tendulkar 46; D.Nannes 3-27, P.Sangwan 2-28). Delhi 166-6 in 17.3 overs (V.Sehwag 50, G.Gambhir 47, T.Dilshan 24; H.Singh 4-17). –AgenciesToday's Match 1730 Delhi Daredevils vs. Deccan ChargersIndian Premier League Table (played, won, lost, no result, points, net run rate) Delhi 14 10 4 0 20 +0.311 Chennai 14 8 5 1 17 +0.951 Bangalore 14 8 6 0 16 -0.191 Deccan 14 7 7 0 14 +0.203 Punjab 14 7 7 0 14 -0.483 Rajasthan 14 6 7 1 13 -0.352 Mumbai 14 5 8 1 11 +0.297 Kolkata 14 3 10 1 7
