Indian Premier League: Kings XI Punjab defeat Delhi Daredevils

Kings XI Punjab boosted their hopes of claiming the fourth and final play-off berth in the Indian Premier League with a seven-run win over the Delhi Daredevils.

Skipper Adam Gilchrist made 42 and and fellow Australian Shaun Marsh 45 as the Kings XI posted 171-4. Deldhi did their best to avoid a 12th defeat of the campaign but finish up just short on 164-7.

Gilchrist had dominated an opening stand of 60 with Marsh before he was caught and bowled by Irfan Pathan after hitting two sixes and five fours.

Marsh scored at slightly better than a-run-a-ball rate until being dismissed by Morne Morkel, but David Miller gave the innings a late flourish with some lusty blows.

The South African cleared the rope on four occasions as he made an unbeaten 44 from just 24 deliveries, while Rajagopal Sathish weighed in with 22.

The Daredevils suffered a disastrous start to their reply when they lost three wickets in the space of eight balls, David Warner the last of them before he'd troubled the scorers.

Virender Sehwag tried to keep them afloat with 30 until falling to Parvinder Awana, leaving Delhi struggling at 61-4 in the 11th over.

A defiant 49 from Ben Rohrer meant the Kings XI were never quite safe, though his departure to Piyush Chawla (2-44) gave them some breathing room.