JOHANNESBURG // Deccan Chargers beat Bangalore Royal Challengers by six runs to win the Indian Premier League (IPL) last night. Chasing what had looked like a below-par total of 143 for six by the Chargers, the Royal Challengers could manage just 137 for nine. Pragyan Ojha, the young Indian left-arm spinner, was the destroyer-in-chief, sending three Royal Challengers to the pavilion for 28 runs. Australia all-rounder Andrew Symonds was also among the wickets with figures of two for 18.
Bangalore lost wickets at regular intervals with none of their batsmen - barring Roelof van der Merwe of South Africa (32) and New Zealand's Ross Taylor (27) - able to negotiate the slow surface. Bangalore were in with a fight until the 15th over when Symonds chipped in with the wickets of Taylor and Virat Kohli off consecutive deliveries. Bangalore were going along nicely at 99 for six before the start of his over.
Anil Kumble won the toss before bowling the first over of the day. The move was a masterstroke with the former India leg-spinner claiming the wicket of his opposite number Adam Gilchrist for nought.But Herschelle Gibbs played a sensible knock of 53 not out to anchor the Deccan innings. * Agencies
