Australia star Brett Lee hit the winning runs in a thrilling climax to secure Kings XI Punjab’s three-wicket win.

Chasing 169 at De Beers Diamond Oval, Punjab raced to 40 off the first four overs before Rohit Sharma claimed the scalps of openers Sunny Sohal (30 off 17) and Simon Katich (nine) in his first over.

Kumar Sangakkara (25) flicked onto his own stumps before dangerman and skipper Yuvraj Singh (18) skied to counterpart Adam Gilchrist as Kings XI reached 86 for four after 10 overs.

Irfan Pathan (10) and Mahela Jayawardene added 30 before the former fell, and then Wilkin Mota (three) and, crucially, Jayawardene (43 from 28 balls) were run out.

That left Punjab needing 20 from 14 balls and then eight from the final over, and Lee hit the winning runs from the penultimate ball of the innings to take his team to 169 for seven.

Earlier, the Chargers raced to 52 in their first six overs but the scoring slowed as wickets fell regularly.

Andrew Symonds (60 not out off 36 balls with four sixes) and Venugopal Rao (32) enjoyed a fifth-wicket stand of 95 that set the basis of the innings, but 168 for 5 proved to be just one short.

Deccan Chargers 168-5 (20) (A Symonds 60*)