Kimberley: Deccan Chargers took a step closer to the semifinals of the Indian Premier League (IPL) Monday with a comprehensive 53-run victory over reigning champions Rajasthan Royals here Monday.

Chasing a 167-run target, Rajasthan Royals folded up for a mere 113 in 19.3 overs.

Chaminda Vaas’ double blow upfront and Rohit Sharma’s golden arm that fetched him three wickets in the slog overs did the trick for Deccan Chargers.

It was Chargers’ first win over Rajasthan Royals in three IPL matches and could not have come at a more opportune stage in the Twenty20 league.

The victory took them to third spot in the points table, pushing Royals to the fourth. Chargers now have 12 points from 10 matches while Royals are on 11 points with only three matches left.

Deccan Chargers posted a challenging score through Dwayne Smith’s entertaining 32-ball 47 and Andrew Symonds’ 30. Chargers powerful strikers hit eight sixes in their innings.

Rajasthan Royals’ batsmen failed misreably as the Chargers’ bowling attack choked them into submission. Swapnil Asnodkar, however, lived dangerously to score 44.

Sri Lankan warhorse Vaas, playing his first match in the current tournament, got off to a sensational start by dismissing in-form Graeme Smith with his first ball in the second over. He then had Lee Carseldine caught behind.

Vass (2-19) showed no signs of rust as he moved the ball on the slow track. At the other end, Andrew Symonds, too, bowled a tight line. Naman Ojha was run-out and Deccan Chargers were three down for 43.

Once Royals’ key batsman Yusuf Pathan was dismissed by Pragyan Ojha for just six, their batting fell apart. Sharma (3-12) continued his terrific bowling in the tournament taking out Abhishek Raut, Morne Morkel and Shane Warne.

Earlier, Adam Gilchrist (10) hit a flick-six off Morne Morkel’s in the first over to open the Chargers’ innings. He, however, fell to Shane Warne’s ploy of introducing spinner Pathan in the 4th over.

T. Suman (29) hit three fours, two off Siddharth Trivedi before mis-hitting a short delivery from the fast bowler to hole out in the deep. Sharma was stumped by Gilchrist off Ravindra Jadeja (2-26).

Following on his last match’s half-century, Symonds once again looked in belligerent form, dispatching Warne for a four and a six before Jadeja cut short his stay.

Dwayne Smith then produced a sparkling knock, stroking four effortless sixes, including an eye-catcher that vanished over the mid-wicket with a flick of the wrist. Chaminda Vaas hit a useful 15-ball 20 in the end.

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