short and KP has smacked the bowler back over his head for a flat-as-flat-can-be six to bring up his century. And yes, to win the game for his side!
Chargers vs Daredevils, 23rd match at Delhi, IPL, Apr 19 2012 - Ball by Ball Commentary
Daredevils won by 5 wickets (with 5 balls remaining)
Presentation
Sehwag: We have strengthened our batting, that is why we picked the likes of Taylor, KP and Mahela to allow us to go with the Indian bowlers. Nadeem is a good prospect, we picked him last year and he is reaping benefits this year. Crowds have been good and I thank the fans for all the support to be there for a four o'clock match.
Sangakkara: Back to the drawing board yes, we need to hold on to our catches, we were also 20 runs short, but KP batted brilliantly. We need to play more smartly, from 100/2 in 12 overs we needed to get going.
Man of the match, Pietersen: This is absolutely amazing, crowds cheering for the teams here. I would love to have more English cricketers playing here, but I am enjoying playing in India. Steyn is a class bowler and it was good playing him, the crowds have been amazing. Yes, this is my best innings in this format, hope to get some more.
Delhi have romped away to their fourth win from five games and along with Rajasthan Royals, are at the top of the table. Deccan Chargers have lost their fourth in a row and could have some hard questions coming their way.
Pietersen's century was the obvious difference between the two sides, but one must say that he was dropped on a couple of occasions. Poor fielding was one of the big reasons behind Deccan's debacle this season.
Speaking of KP, he has been in the form of his life, coming from a century and a 40 in the second Test against Sri Lanka, another 40 in the first innings he batted in the IPL and now has followed it up with this match-winning century. Delhi's net run-rate takes them to the top of the points table.
KP on strike and there can hardly be any doubt he is going for a big one here.
nicked away, but goes on the bounce to the wicket-keeper, which means that KP sill has a chance to get his century.
pitched up o the bat and drilled by KP through the sweeper region for a single.
KP's on 96 with DD needing 3.
short and Nagar plays an ugly swipe, it goes to the long-off region for a single.
short ball from Steyn, KP was expecting it given the number of fielders on the leg-side, deep, he pulls it away to the deep mid-wicket region for a single.
slower one and Nagar waits for it, before playing it to the third-man region for a single. Over to KP now.
pitched right up to the bat and Nagar gives himself some room and drills it through the covers for a couple of runs.
Delhi need 8 to win, KP needs 5 for his 100. Steyn has the ball.
and driven yet again down to the long-off region for a single. Only eight needed from 12 balls.
dropped by Sangakkara I think, driven hard to short cover and the captain got his right hand to it. Hits the wrist instead of the palm.
goes down the track and drives it to long-off.
short from Christian and that has been pulled away rather easily to the deep square-leg region for a boundary. It is slipping away for the Chargers.
and he plays it away to the leg-side for a single now. This is easy now.
pitched up and drilled over the long-off fielder, that could have well been caught had the fielder been up to the fence!
Christian, with 1/21 from three overs, to bowl now.
yep, he is pitching them right up to the bat but it could well be a matter of too little, too late. Driven to wide long-off for a couple of easy runs.
again, pitched right up and KP only needs to play it away to the off-side for a single.
pitched right up and this time he drills it to the mid-off fielder for a single.
short and what a shot! He is bowling it short and wide and this time Nagar flashes hard at it and gets the placement right, through point!
drilled through to the long-off region for a single.
KP is on 85, highest score in this format of the game for him.
short and wide and Pietersen had smashed that over widish long-off for a flat six. Lot of pressure on the debutant now.
Time-Out and Lehmann has a lot to say to his captain.
Veer Pratap Singh, with figures of 1/16 off his three, will bowl now. He has had a good start to his IPL career, can he maintain it in his final over.
cut away and for a four! That is a superb stroke after the first five balls had cost him only two runs.
Over 20 • DC 162/5
Daredevils won by 5 wickets (with 5 balls remaining)