Somerset send Deccan Chargers packing

Reigning Indian Premier League champs continue poor home run; lose to Somerset this time off the last ball

Reigning Indian Premier League champs continue poor home run; lose to Somerset this time off the last ball

Though Deccan Chargers are the defending IPL champions, when they entered the Rajiv Gandhi Stadium on Saturday to face Somerset and open their Champions League Twenty20 campaign, they were a bit wary. After all, the Hyderabad-based franchise was the only IPL team to have lost all its seven home games in the inaugural edition of the IPL last year. And their dismal record at home carried on as they suffered a shocking three-wicket defeat.

Gotcha! Somerset celebrate the wicket of Deccan Chargers' Rohit Sharma during Saturday'su00a0 Champions League match at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad. Somerset beat Chargers by three wickets. Pic/Suresh KK

After reducing Somerset to 99 for seven in the 14th over (chasing 153), the Chargers looked all set to register their maiden victory at the Uppal. But a spirited 50-run eighth-wicket stand between James Hildreth (25 off 24 balls) and the hero of the night Alfonso Thomas (30 not out off 17) took the game away from the home team.

With just five needed to win off the last over Scott Styris broke the partnership off the very first ball, dismantling the woodwork of Hildreth. In came Max Waller and gently pushed his opening ball back to the bowler. Four off five.

Waller then went for a big one but only scooped it in the air and Styris took a dolly. But as the batsmen had crossed Thomas was on strike. Three off five with the last man in, but Styris, bowled a wide full toss and Thomas caressed it through the point region for a boundary. Two off one and Gilchrist had no option than to get all his men in to save the single. Thomas tried to heave the next ball over mid-on but didn't time it. One off one. Thomas made room for himself and hit over for four.

Earlier, VVS Laxman (46 off 35) played an uncharacteristic innings at the top of the order to set up a good platform that saw the Chargers' set a respectable target of 154.

Sunday's Champions League action on TV...
Somerset Sabresu00a0vs Trinidad & Tobago 15:45 on Star Sports
Royal Challengers Bangalore vs Otago Volts 19:45 on Star Sports