DHARAMSALA, India: Deccan Chargers dashed Kings XI Punjab's hopes of qualifying for the Indian Premier League playoffs with a thumping 82-run victory Saturday. Kings XI had to win its final league match to stay in contention for a place among the top four but collapsed during its chase when Amit Mishra claimed a hat trick. The Indian leg-spinner dismissed Ryan McLaren (9), Mandeep Singh (7) and Ryan Harris for nought and finished with four for nine. Kings XI finished fifth in the 10-team competition with 14 points. Defending champions Chennai Super Kings (18 points), Royal Challengers Bangalore (17), Kolkata Knight Riders (16) and MumbaiIndians (16) secured the four playoff sports with a round to spare. Chargers were put in to bat, reaching 198-2 from 20 overs after an opening-wicket stand of 131 between Man of the Match Shikhar Dhawan (95 not out) and Ravi Teja (60). Kings XI were all out for 116 in 19 overs. “My toss decision was wrong. I got caught up in the run rate, rain forecast and stuff. That combined with the worst fielding performance on the field didn't help on the bad day,” Kings XI captain Adam Gilchrist said. In New Delhi, the match between Delhi Daredevils and Pune Warriors – the bottom two teams – was called off after rain stopped play with the hosts struggling at 56-3 in 10.1 overs after choosing to bat. Left-hander Dhawan hit 14 fours and a six in his 57-ball knock to provide the visitors with a strong start as they took full advantage of a poor fielding display by Kings XI. Teja hit successive sixes off Indian leg-spinner Piyush Chawla to reach his fifty before being caught at deep mid-wicket off pacer Paul Valthaty. Kings XI began shakily as it lost opener Paul Valthaty to South African quick Dale Steyn for five and in-form Australian Shaun Marsh to South African JP Duminy for 13. Gilchrist lifted the side with a quick-fire 51 but his dismissal – caught by Cameron White off Australian pacer Daniel Christian – triggered a collapse. Christian dismissed Dinesh Karthik for 13 in the same over before Mishra took his second hat trick in the competition to shut the door on Kings XI. Chargers finished seventh with 12 points. Both Daredevils and Pune Warriors completed their league program with nine points. Warriors finished ninth owing to better net run rate, condemning Daredevils to a last-place finish. On Sunday, Royal Challengers Bangalore play Chennai Super Kings and Kolkata Knight Riders take on MumbaiIndians in the last round of league matches that will decide the final positions. Scores: Deccan Chargers 198-2 in 20 overs (Shikhar Dhawan 95 not out, Ravi Teja 60) def. Kings XI Punjab 116 in 19 overs (Adam Gilchrist 51, Amit Mishra 4-9, Daniel Christian 2
