Deccan Chargers dash Bangalore´s hopes of reaching IPL play-offs

HYDARABAD, May 21: South African Dale Steyn took three wickets for eight runs and led Deccan Chargers to a nine-run victory over Royal Challengers Bangalore, while Mumbai Indians warmed up for playoffs with a thumping 10-wicket win against Rajasthan Royals in the Indian Premier League on Sunday.

The defeat knocked the Challengers out of the playoffs as defending champion Chennai Super Kings go through thanks to a superior run-rate after both teams finished with 17 points.

JP Duminy smashed 74 off 53 balls to lift the Chargers´ total to 132-7. Steyn removed the dangerous Chris Gayle (27) and Tillakaratne Dilshan in successive overs before clean bowling Zaheer Khan in his last over as the Challengers finished with 123-9.

Chargers ended up second from the bottom in the nine-team league with nine points from just four wins, 11 defeats and one no-result.

Gayle, who scored a century in the previous game against leaders Delhi Daredevils, gave his team another blistering start when he smashed three fours and two sixes in seamer Manpreet Singh´s first over of the innings.