Kings XI Punjab (KXIP) has found their mojo back towards the business end of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2020. After gunning down the top three teams in the table, KXIP pulled off a heist like a win over Surisers Hyderabad (SRH) on Saturday. KXIP bowlers, especially, Arshdeep Singh, and Chris Jordan defended the lowest total of the season, 126, and rather managed to win the game by 12 runs. SRH failed to get over the line despite needing just 30 runs off the last five overs to lose seven wickets for just 14 runs.
Earlier, after losing the toss, KXIP suffered some early blows as they lost KL Rahul’s new opening partner Mandeep Singh in the fifth over itself, so come in the squad to replace the injured Mayank Agarwal. Chris Gayle came out and smacked a six but Jason Holder got the better of him for a run-a-ball 20. However, Rahul was struggling against Rashid Khan and his stumps were shattered on a brilliant googly. Despite having 61 runs on the board after nine overs, KXIP lost all the momentum in the latter half of the innings.
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Nicholas Pooran and Glenn Maxwell tried to build a partnership but failed to up the ante as the latter’s poor season continued and wickets kept on falling Punjab and run became invisible. However, Pooran kept one end alive as he was unbeaten during his score of 32 runs. KXIP only managed to register a total of 126 runs on the board as Sandeep Sharma, Rashid, and Jason Holder picked two wickets each for SRH.
SRH was expected to chase down the score of 127 comfortably and their openers David Warner and Jonny Bairstow started in the same manner as they added 56 runs in 6.2 overs before Ravi Bishnoi dismissed the SRH skipper. But Warner’s 20-ball 35 laid a perfect platform for the middle-order, still Bairstow and Abdul Samad getting out soon.
Sunrisers were at 67/3 in the ninth over, and again, Manish Pandey and Vijay Shankar managed to stop a collapse. They played out the leg-spinners Murugan Ashwin and Ravi Bishnoi and Shankar played a few decent strokes with the straight bat to churn boundaries. However, the equation came down to SRH requiring 28 off the last four overs.
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Pandey then was dismissed by Chris Jordan owing to a mind-boggling catch by Jagadeesha Suchith. From then on, things went from bad worse for Sunrisers as Jordan bowled a sensational penultimate over to send back Holder and Rashid off successive deliveries. SRH needed 14 runs in the last over with Arshdeep Singh, bowling the final over. He completely choked the Sunrisers in the chase as they literally fell 12 runs short after losing their last seven wickets for just 14 runs to hand over the game to the opponents.
Here’s how Twitter reacted:
BALLEEEE BAAALLLEEEEEE OYYYEEEE SHAAVAA SHAAAVAA 🕺🕺🕺🕺
Asssi jitttt gayeeeeeeee! 😍#SaddaPunjab #IPL2020 #KXIP #KXIPvSRH
— Kings XI Punjab (@lionsdenkxip) October 24, 2020
What an #IPL2020 ! At one time #SRH was cruising to a win as they needed only 127 to win. But in a dramatic turnover #KXIP bowlers has done the impossible and were able to grab victory from jaws of defeat!#KXIPvSRH
— Sreedhar Pillai (@sri50) October 24, 2020
Shocking. KXIP managed to finish the match with one ball remaining. #KXIPvSRH
— Trendulkar (@Trendulkar) October 24, 2020
Must say, @lionsdenkxip have been the most entertaining team this #IPL2020!
So many close games, Super Overs, close wins.
— Nikhil 🏏 (@CricCrazyNIKS) October 24, 2020
How good has #arshdeep been and also #jordan making his presence felt. #SRH was 50/0 and what a turn around by #kxip .#ipl at it's very best.#SaturdaySpecial
— Hemang Badani (@hemangkbadani) October 24, 2020
Such a dramatic turnaround, #SRH losing 7 wickets for just 14 runs after being 100-3. Lost their focus and wickets and great opportunity to win two priceless points. Great show by #KXIP. Looking good to be in play-offs now
— Cricketwallah (@cricketwallah) October 24, 2020
Himmat na haaro ke prime example @lionsdenkxip #IPL2020 #Arshdeepsingh #Jordan #nicholaspooran
— Irfan Pathan (@IrfanPathan) October 24, 2020
From 56/0 to 114 all out.
Not sure, I have seen more weird and bizarre game than this batting effort from both sides.
Weird. Weird. But happy for KXIP.
— Nikhil 🏏 (@CricCrazyNIKS) October 24, 2020
Sunrisers Hyderabad lost to Kings XI Punjab in the IPL for the first time under David Warner's captaincy.
Warner led SRH in seven IPL games against KXIP before this match and scored fifties in all those seven. #IPL2020 #KXIPvSRH
— Sampath Bandarupalli (@SampathStats) October 24, 2020
What a victory @lionsdenkxip! Cricket is truly a mystery! As they say nothing is done in a game of cricket until the last ball is bowled! Absolute brilliant team effort from the Punjab boys! #KXIPvSRH #IPL
— Kris Srikkanth (@KrisSrikkanth) October 24, 2020
Well well well ! I told you this team has got some momentum going @lionsdenkxip has snatched that game out of @SunRisers hands That’s what happens if you don’t go ahead of the run rate in a low scoring game ! Tables getting interesting 🤔? #KXIPvSRH #IPL2020
— Yuvraj Singh (@YUVSTRONG12) October 24, 2020
Amazing amazing effort !!!
Big up boys 👊🏽👊🏽🔥 #SaddaPunjab #SRHvsKXIP— Mayank Agarwal (@mayankcricket) October 24, 2020
