Gambhir gets Delhi off to a winning start

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Mohali: Gautam Gambhir led from the front with a patient 72 to guide Delhi Daredevils to a tense five-wicket victory over Kings XI Punjab in their first match of the tournament on Saturday.

A clinical performance from the Delhi Daredevils bowlers kept Kings XI Punjab to a modest 142-9, before Gambhir produced a captain's knock to steer his team home. Needing four off the last over, Gambhir was sent back by Irfan Pathan but Farveez Maharoof kept his calm and crashed the penultimate ball for a boundary to seal victory.

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Gambhir faced 54 balls and struck nine fours and a six in a display of risk-free batting, after S Sreesanth rocked the Delhi run chase by nipping out Virender Sehwag and Tillakaratne Dilshan in his very first over.

AB de Villiers also fell early, owing to a mix-up with Gambhir, and Dinesh Karthik perished trying to push the scoring rate, before Delhi Ranji player Mithun Manhas anchored his side with Gambhir as the duo added 61 runs to inch towards their target.

Earlier, opener Ravi Bopara's 56 was the lone bright spot in the Punjab innings, as the hosts lost wickets at regular intervals after Delhi captain Gautam Gambhir won the toss and put them in to bat.

The Delhi bowlers maintained a stifling line on a lively pitch at Mohali, with Dirk Nannes the most successful with 2-12 from his four overs. Farveez Maharoof picked up two wickets too.

Star batsman Yuvraj Singh struck a boundary before holing out, while new captain Kumar Sangakkara failed to convert his start. Mahela Jayawardene was out first ball, before Irfan Pathan struck up a 60-run stand with Bopara.