IPL table-toppers Kings XI Punjab left it until the last over to beat bottom side Delhi Daredevils in tonight's match in the Indian capital, becoming the first side to qualify for this year's playoffs.
Visitors Punjab, who won the toss and chose to field, got rid of Murali Vijay for just five runs in the third over but then Kevin Pietersen (49) and Dinesh Karthik (69) hit a 71-run partnership in just 48 balls.
Pietersen was bowled by Akshar Patel one run short of his 50 and that brought JP Duminy to the crease, with the South African putting on a 56-run partnership with Karthik.
Kings XI were able to remove both Duminy and Karthik within eight balls and the rest of the Daredevils struggled to damage the scoreboard in the final two overs as the hosts finished on 164-7.
Sandeep Sharma and Beuran Hendricks both took three wickets each for losses of 35 and 36 runs respectively.
The Daredevils' attempts to defend their total didn't get off to the best of starts as Punjab openers Virender Sehwag and Manan Vohra scored 67 runs in the first six overs.
Vohra was then dismissed after scoring 42 runs off just 19 balls, including three sixes, with Sehwag going for 23 in the next over.
Although they struggled in the middle order, Patel's unbeaten 42, coupled with Vohra's quickfire score from earlier, was enough for Punjab to record a four-wicket win with two balls to spare.
Imran Tahir was the pick of the Delhi bowlers, finishing with figures of 3-23 from his four overs.
Punjab extend their lead at the top of the standings to two points, while Delhi, who have lost seven games in a row, are now four points adrift at the bottom.
Pascal Lemesre
