New Delhi, May 17: Heavy rain delayed the start of the game and hastened the finish, but in between the near-capacity Kotla crowd was treated to a downpour of sixes in a stimulating face-off between Delhi Daredevils and Kings XI on Saturday

Sporadic rain marred the tie, playing a cat-and-mouse game with the players and spectators, but the Kings eventually managed to eke out a six-run win over the hosts via the Duckworth-Lewis method in an 11-overs-a-side game.

At the eighth-over mark, Kings were 94/3 agonisingly ahead of the 88 needed, before rain intervened for the umpteenth time. Chasing the revised target of 123, the Yuvraj Singh-led team fought till the end with Luke Pomersbach (25) and Mahela Jayawardene (36) providing the fireworks. Their fiery 63-run stand for the fourth wicket poured cold water over Sehwag’s unbeaten 51 off 26 balls with five sixes and two fours.

The Mohali-based team now move to 14 points in the league table. The hosts had put on 118/4 after winning the toss and electing to bat and despite the result not going their way, they looked on top of their game.

Sehwag looked like a man possessed on the day. Up against the form side of the tournament, he perhaps realized his side could not afford any more debacles early on.

Gambhir started shakily, getting an inside edge onto his pads that trickled just inches past the stumps. Sreesanth’s first delivery offered a lot of promise for Kings XI. There was no grass on the surface, unlike the previous game, but overnight rain had juiced up the pitch.

However, It was spoken too soon as the bowler erred in his line, following up with four wides. The over ended with a slash from the Daredevils skipper that cleared the third man fence.

The other pacers didn’t fare any better with the both two openers throwing caution to the winds and getting away in the powerplays without a scratch, putting 68 on board. Had the Kings taken the two chances that went abegging– Sehwag spilled in the covers by Yuvraj and Gambhir at deep thirdman by V.R.V. Singh — things could have well been different.

Sehwag, celebrated his life, clattering 22 in woeful V.R.V. over, though Gambhir fell to a straighter one from Ramesh Powar. Rain interfered thereafter eventually spoiling Delhi’s party.