Pune find IPL form as Delhi run out of gas

Jesse Ryder's 86 helped the Pune Warriors overcome Delhi to create a four-way tie at the top of the table.

Jesse Ryder went for 86 to help the Pune Warriors defeat the Delhi Daredevils by 20 runs and knot the top of the Indian Premier League with four teams on eight points.

Jesse Ryder starred for the Pune Warriors Saturday night as the Indian Premier League defeated the Delhi Daredevils by 20 runs.

Batting first, Pune posted a formidable 192 for three that was built around Ryder's 86 in 58 balls at Ferozeshah Kotla Ground.

The New Zealander struck seven fours and four sixes, sharing productive stands with his captain Sourav Ganguly (41) and Steve Smith (34no).

Ryder got two lucky top-edged sixes early in his innings and maintained the flow with some fine shots even after Ganguly's departure.

Smith then produced a 13-ball cameo of 34 not out in which he bludgeoned two sixes and four fours and showed his ability to switch-hit.

South Africa's Morne Morkel took all three wickets for Delhi.

Alfonso Thomas removed key Dehli man Mahela Jayawardene early, but Virender Sehwag hit an exciting 57 in 32 deliveries and Kevin Pietersen added a brisk 32, but the home side could not put up a fight even as Ganguly completed a good all-round effort by taking the important wickets of Pietersen and Irfan Pathan.

"Sehwag was hitting them hard, so it is a relief when he gets out," Ganguly told a television reporter.

"The last five overs of batting from Smith were good, but only when Sehwag got out we thought we came back into the game. Getting Pietersen out was a big relief obviously."

In the end Dehli fell well short, closing on 172 for seven. "I needed to bat until the end, at least till the 16th over," Sehwag told reporters.

"We needed someone to bat on until the end, irrespective of how many batsmen we had. The wicket was good to bat on, I liked batting on this pitch." Delhi remain on top of the league table with four wins from six games while Pune have four from seven.

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