JOHANNESBURG, May 16: Deccan Chargers pressed the self destruct button... well almost. It was another close game but this time they had Rohit Sharma to provide the killer punch. The vice-captain knocked off the 21 runs off the last over from Mashrafe Mortaza with consumate ease to land the Chargers two points with a six-wicket win.

With 14 points from 12 games now, Chargers will now have to win one more of their their two remaining games to make certain of their spot in the semi-finals.

Chasing has been a difficult proposition in most matches recently and the trend continued. A target of 161 required a quick push in the initial overs and the opening pair of Herschelle Gibbs and Adam Gilchrist provided that with panache.

The skipper set the Wanderers alight with two huge sixes off IPL debutant Mortaza. Barring a fine over from Murali Kartik nothing went right for Kolkata during the powerplay. The 50 came up in 5.4 overs.

Gibbs struggled for placement and timing but there was no respite for the bowlers as Gilchrist continued to fire on all cylinders from the other end. Gilchrist decided to take on Brad Hodge at the stroke of interval and perished. With the spinners bowling effectively the asking rate climbed a notch and stood at nine during the break. Soon Gibbs slapped a short ball from Kartik straight to the fielder. His 34-ball 28 did more harm than good.

Kartik had finished a dream spell and Ishant Sharma was also bowled out and Kolkata had little option for the last four overs when 48 was required. Ajit Agarkar went for 13 and it looked fine for the Chargers before Symonds was run out and a familiar story followed.

Earlier, in a tight situation and against opponents who had nothing to lose, the Chargers had a tough assignment. They responded with a disciplined bowling performance in the first half before surrendering the advantage in the second.

The new ball pair of R.P. Singh and Ryan Harris backed Gilchrist’s decision to bowl on a wicket that appeared to be on the slower side. McCullum’s sweetly timed six off R.P. Singh over mid-wicket was the only stroke of authority in the first six overs.

Harris, working up good pace, got the ball to get big on the batsmen. Kolkata’s chances hinged heavily on McCullum and it was crucial for the Chargers to see his back quickly. The Kolkata skipper timed the ball well but was unable to find the gaps. Gibbs put down a hard chance at point but it did not prove costly as McCullum top edged an intended hook off Harris and Suman held on the catch. Harris kept the batsmen on a tight leash, allowing only 13 runs in his first spell of three overs.

Sourav Ganguly and Hodge struggled for timing and the run rate dipped with every over. Chargers, to their credit, ran through the overs quickly. At the break, the score had progressed to only 50/1. With wickets in hand the batsmen could have showed more urgency. In the first over after the break 10 runs were added as they got a move on.

Ganguly who was earlier hit on the groin hit one straight to long-on, Rohit the successful bowler. The entry of David Hussey ensured quicker running between the wickets. His inside out cover drive off Pragyan Ojha was easily the shot of the innings.

R.P. Singh was taken off after bowling two bouncers in the 19th over. Harmeet Singh who continued the over proved extremely expensive. Hussey was finally out for 43 as Kolkata finished with 160 with the last 10 overs producing 110 runs.

Chargers rang three changes to the team that lost to Delhi in Durban. Harris, Harmeet and Gibbs coming in for Dwayne Smith, Chaminda Vaas and S.M. Shoaib.