White smashed a strokeful 78 off just 46 balls and together with JP Duminy (26 not out) added crucial 75 runs for the fifth wicket to power Deccan to 177 for four after electing to bat.
And then Deccan bowlers rose to the occasion for the first time in IPL season five as Pune lost wickets at regular intervals to be retstricted to 159 for seven at the Subrata Roy Sahara Stadium.
Debutant Ashish Reddy (2/32) and Rusty Theron (2/37) starred with the ball for Deccan, picking up two wickets apiece. The victory is Deccan first win in this year`s IPL after five straight loses and a wash out game.
Pune`s run chase started on an awry note as they lost both their openers -- Jesse Ryder and Manish Pandey -- inside the 50-run mark.
While dangerous Ryder fell early with the scoreboard reading just 15, young Pandey showed some sparks in his 21-run knock before being bowled by Theron in his opening over at the team score of 43.
Pune captain Sourav Ganguly (23), who was dropped by Duminy at point in the first delivery of the 10th over by Manpreet Gony, failed to capitalise on the chance as fell three balls later, caught brilliantly by substitude fielder Daniel Harris at short cover.
Reddy then struck twice in the 14th over to derail Pune`s chase. Reddy first bowled Robin Uthappa as he went for a cheeky shot and then four balls later accounted for a struggling Marlon Samuels, caught by Deccan skipper Kumar Sangakkara.