Deccan Chargers relied on a late batting assault by Dwayne Smith (47) and Rohit Sharma's three-wicket dream spell later on to thump Rajasthan Royals by 53 runs in their Indian Premier League match.

A Super Over, won by the Rajasthan Royals, was needed to separate the two sides after a stirring fightback from the Knight Riders was nipped in the bud by Kamran Khan in game nine of the Indian Premier League in Port Elizabeth.

It's coming all too slowly for the Knight Riders ... another tight over and only two runs. 25-3 off nine overs It's looking like a Test, in every which way.

Mumbai: Mahendra Singh Dhoni-led Chennai Super Kings will hope to be third-time lucky as they take on defending champions Deccan Chargers in the second semi-final of IPL III at the DY Patil Stadium on Thursday.

Today's double-header is a clash between the haves and the have nots. The Chennai Super Kings (who take on the Mumbai Indians) and the Deccan Chargers (who will play the Kolkata Knight Riders) are virtually assured places in the final four. Will this cause a drop in intensity?

Adam Gilchrist and Rohit Sharma hammered explosive half centuries to set up a comprehensive 24-run victory for the Deccan Chargers against the Bangalore Royal Challengers in their Indian Premier League (IPL) match at Newlands on Wednesday.