Bangalore, May 3: In the end it was a thriller that could have gone either way. However, the Royal Challengers, with a helping hand from the umpires and a couple of tight overs in the end, carved out a much-needed win in the Indian Premier League.

After the calming influence of Rohit Sharma and the class of V.V.S. Laxman, the Deccan Chargers' back into the chase, the Bangalore team held their nerve for a hard-fought, exciting three-run win - their first at home in four matches - on Saturday.

At 127/2, after the Royal Challengers had been restricted to 156/8, the Chargers were definitely on the ball. But a flurry of wickets in the last three overs spoiled their party. A couple of dodgy leg before decisions against captain Laxman and Scott Styris also went against them.

Needing 20 off the final over, after a couple of singles, Sanjay Bangar hammered two successive sixes off Anil Kumble to set-up an exciting finish.

One more big hit would have sealed the game as six runs were needed off the last two deliveries, but the Chargers could manage only two with Arjun Yadav failing to hammer home a last-ball glory strike.

A little earlier, with the Chargers at 31/2, following the cheap dismissals of Adam Gilchrist and Herschelle Gibbs, the stage was set for the in-form Rohit Sharma. Fresh from his unbeaten 76 in the previous match, the 21-year-old, much to the delight of the crowd displayed an array of shots that was pleasing to watch.

In the company of Laxman, Sharma showed immense maturity and raised 96 for the third wicket. However, he perished after a polished 57 off 42 balls with five fours and three sixes, with his team still needing 30 runs of 19 balls. It was tough but not impossible.

A big one from Shahid Afridi was the need of the hour. Instead, an intended hit over long-on was stunningly plucked out by Dale Steyn. Then, man of the match Praveen Kumar and Zaheer Khan followed up with incisive bowling in the 18th and 19th overs which all but sealed the match in the Challengers' favour.

Earlier Wasim Jaffer's 44 off 37 deliveries with six hits to the ropes and Virat Kohli's 38 off 29 balls with two sixes laid the foundation for a fighting score.

Rahul Dravid, who had been ridiculed for picking Jaffer, will be pleased as a punch with the Mumbai opener. Save for Jaffer and Kohli the rest have failed to click in the tournament. And it was thanks to their second-wicket alliance of 76 and Dravid's late burst of two sixes in the final over that gave their bowlers something to defend.