NEW DELHI: Delhi Daredevils defeated Rising Pune Supergiant by seven runs last night in the Indian Premier League to keep them waiting for a playoff berth.
Batting first, Delhi made 168 for eight, thanks to Karun Nair’s 64 and then restricted Pune to 161 for seven with captain Zaheer Khan and Mohmmad Shami picking two wickets each.
Needing 25 of the last over, Manoj Tiwari raised hopes of an improbable victory hitting sixes of the first two balls of Pat Cummings to reduce the target to a possible 13 of four balls.
With the next ball being a wide, Delhi looked the likely winners.
But the next two dot balls cost Delhi dear and though the next delivery went for four leg byes the match was as good as lost.
Tiwari (60, 45 balls, 5 four, 3 six) was clean bowled of the last ball.
Pune remain third on 16 points while Delhi (12 points) are already out of contention for a place in the playoffs.
Mumbai (18) have already qualified and meet Kolkata (16) , who will be looking for a victory to join their opponents in the playoffs.
A defeat will still keep Kolkata in the race as a three-way tie can ensue.
A Pune victory last night would have ensured them a place in the playoffs leaving Hyderabad and Punjab to fight it out for the last playoff spot.
Hyderabad (15) can book a place in the playoffs today if they can beat Gujarat in today’s early game while Punjab will not only have to beat Pune tomorrow but also ensure they finish with a better net run rate.
A simple victory for Pune is enough to qualify for the playoffs.