Delhi hold nerve in tense win

Delhi Daredevils defeated fancied Rising Pune Supergiant by seven runs here yesterday, making the play-off race tougher for the visiting side in the Indian Premier League.

Pune, who came into the match winning seven out of their last eight matches, could only reach 161 for seven in reply to Delhi Daredevils' 168 for eight after the hosts surprisingly decided to bat first.

Karun Nair starred with the bat for Delhi with 64 off 45 balls while a fighting 60 off 45 balls from Manoj Tiwary did not prove to be enough for Pune.

Needing 25 off the last over, Tiwary made things interesting with sixes off the first two balls before being bowled by Pat Cummins.

Earlier, Karun Nair struck his first half-century of the season to help Daredevils set up a competitive total.

Nair (64 off 45) and Rishabh Pant (36 off 22) set the platform for Delhi before regular fall of wickets pushed them back.

SCORES IN BRIEF

DELHI: 168 for 8 (Nair 64, Pant 36, Samuels 27; Unadkat 2-29, Stokes 2-31)

PUNE: 161 for 7 (Tiwary 60, Smith 38, Stokes 33; Khan 2-25, Shami 2-37)

Result: Delhi Daredevils won by 7 runs

Player-of-the-match: Karun Nair