The pall of gloom cast by the spot-fixing scandal exposed earlier in the day was temporarily lifted by a popular if nervy home win at one of cricket’s more scenic venues. The HPCA Stadium in Dharamsala was hardly packed to the rafters, but that seemed to matter little as a rejuvenated Kings XI Punjab kept their slender play-off hopes alive with a seven-run win.

Up against Delhi Daredevils, one step off the foot of the table and playing for the most part like a team lying eighth out of nine, Punjab produced a splendid batting display with Adam Gilchrist and David Miller in the forefront. They then choked Delhi early on with their assortment of pacers.

Asked to make first use of a surface with plenty of pace and bounce, Punjab rode on a frenetic start provided by Gilchrist, back in superb touch after his early-season travails, and an explosive late charge from Miller to post 171 for 4.

Sandeep Sharma, the young pacer, then conjured a double-wicket maiden in his first over, including the prized scalp of David Warner first ball, to send the crowd into raptures. Virender Sehwag, batting at No. 5, threatened briefly but Mahela Jayawardene resembled an actor who had completely fluffed his lines for three-fourths of his innings.

Enter Ben Rohrer, with 111 required for victory from 56 deliveries. He single-handedly threatened to spoil Punjab’s party, smashing 49 off just 29 deliveries with four fours and three sixes, but when the otherwise profligate Piyush Chawla castled him with the first delivery of the final over when 22 were required for victory, Dharamsala heaved a sigh of relief.

Praveen Kumar had provided the the early breakthrough by firing out Unmukt Chand, and when Sandeep sent back Irfan Pathan, inexplicably promoted to No. 3, and Warner off successive deliveries, Delhi needed a miracle which wasn’t forthcoming.

Delhi had unleashed an all-pace attack in deference to the conditions, but while their planning was immaculate, the execution was anything but. There was plenty of width on offer, and Delhi didn’t help their cause when Umesh Yadav at third man put down a screamer as Gilchrist lashed a wide delivery from Morne Morkel flat but extremely hard.

Ashish Nehra suffered most at Gilchrist’s hands, smashed for three fours and two sixes in two overs as Punjab reached 53 without loss after the Power Play overs. For some strange reason, Marsh suddenly lost his timing and when Gilchrist was caught trying one big stroke too many after an opening stand of 60, the innings hit a roadblock.

Only 50 runs came in the next nine overs as Delhi pulled things back brilliantly, but the lingering threat of Miller meant any euphoria had to be tempered. Delhi’s worst fears came true when Miller tore into them, smashing sixes at will and putting on 47 in just 21 deliveries with the enterprising R Sathish. The last five overs yielded 68, as Punjab managed to keep playoff hopes alive.