Kings XI Punjab (KXIP) have finally managed to put an end to their losing streak of five matches as they defeated Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) by 8 wickets at Sharjah. It was some brilliant batting from KL Rahul and Mayank Agarwal followed by some flamboyant batting by the Universe Boss, Chris Gayle. Although it went to the last ball of the innings, KXIP never looked were always ahead in the chase.
Chasing 172, KXIP got a solid start as their opener amassed 56 runs in the powerplay itself. However, Yuvzendra Chahal got the better of Mayank Agarwal in the 8th over after getting hammered for a six. KL Rahul, at the other end, played some patient cricket and looked determined to take the team over the line. Chris Gayle walked out at number three and literally, and along with Rahul he made sure that RCB don’t stand any chance in the game.
WATCH – Virat Kohli Demonstrates His Dancing Skills Before The KXIP Game
Both Rahul and Gayle got to their respective half-centuries and this time, and they were well on the verge of making sure that there are no further hiccups for the KXIP as in some previous games as Gayle smashed Washington Sundar and Mohammed Siraj for some humongous sixes to bring the required run-rate below five. However, some brilliant overs from Isuru Udana and Chris Morris took the match to the last over.
Needing two runs off six balls, Chahal gave away just one run in the first five deliveries with Gayle getting run-out on the penultimate one. But KXIP finally got over the line winning the game by eight wickets as Nicholas Pooran smashed a six on the final ball.
Earlier, RCB opted to bat first and their openers added 38 runs before the dismissal of Devdutt Padikkal in the fifth over. Aaron Finch played a few good strokes for his 20 but he was castled with a beautiful delivery by M Ashwin. Much to everyone’s surprise, Washington Sundar came out to bat at four ahead of AB de Villiers, possibly to tackle the leg-spinners.
Virat Kohli, at the other end, was making sure that the scoreboard keeps on going and RCB made another blunder of no send De Villiers at 5 as Shivam Dube batted ahead of him as well. Dube added 41 runs with Kohli but there was no pace to the innings at all and eventually, he got out. Mohammed Shami turned the in the 18th over by dismissing Virat and ABD in the same over. At 136/6 in the 18th over, it looked like, RCB will struggle even to get to 160.
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However, Chris Morris came out all guns blazing and helped his team to reach the tally of 171 runs in their 20 overs. Kohli was the top scorer with 48 runs off 39 deliveries. For KXIP, Ashwin was the best bowler with the figures of 2/23 while Shami and Chris Jordan were also amongst the wickets.
Match Summary:
Kings XI Punjab – 177/2 in 20 overs (KL Rahul: 61*, C Gayle: 53; Y Chahal: 1/35) defeated Royal Challengers Bangalore – 171/6 in 20 overs (V Kohli: 48; M Ashwin: 2/23, M Shami: 2/45) by 8 wickets
Here’s how Twitter reacted:
First match of the season, #UniverseBoss ne maar ditti fifty 😍💥 🐐#SaddaPunjab #IPL2020 #KXIP #RCBvKXIP #UniverseBoss
— Punjab Kings (@PunjabKingsIPL) October 15, 2020
First game of the season and a FIFTY for The Boss 😎👏#Dream11IPL | @henrygayle pic.twitter.com/xoPrFLgjpS
— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) October 15, 2020
Chris Gayle now has 10000 runs coming via boundaries (1027 fours & 982 sixes) in Twenty20 cricket.
Kieron Pollard and Shoaib Malik are the only other cricketers to even aggregate 10000 T20 runs till date. #IPL2020 #RCBvKXIP
— Sampath Bandarupalli (@SampathStats) October 15, 2020
Chris Gayle has been the greatest T20 player. No doubt about that. The question was whether he still is. I don't know that but he is still value.
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) October 15, 2020
Well played to @henrygayle . Welcome back, its been a while but great to have him back. Nice knock from K L Rahul who balanced his inning well.
— Ian Raphael Bishop (@irbishi) October 15, 2020
Universe Boss is back. And #KXIP has bossed this game. Two wins in #IPL2020 thus far. And both against #PlayBold #RCBvKXIP
— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) October 15, 2020
Also teams have to fight for the first two spots bec it gives them an extra opportunity. RCB had that chance but the moves today weren’t the best by any yardstick. Sundar and Dube ahead of the great ABD? No Sundar in the powerplay?
— Boria Majumdar (@BoriaMajumdar) October 15, 2020
Form is temporary but class is permanent!! @henrygayle @IPL @lionsdenkxip #RCBvsKXIP #IPL2020
— Vinay Kumar R (@Vinay_Kumar_R) October 15, 2020
The #UniverseBoss is back & so are #kXIP !! #KXIPvRCB @IPL
— Mithun V Manhas (@MithunManhas) October 15, 2020
Universe Boss @henrygayle is BACK. Sensational 50* off 36 balls with 5 huge 6s. He remains the greatest entertainer in batting history. pic.twitter.com/6MO5NSBGHB
— Piers Morgan (@piersmorgan) October 15, 2020
Very impressed by @klrahul11's captaincy in this match, the way he shuffled his bowlers and his batting!
Also good to see the Universe Boss back at business.
Got everyone nervous in the end but well deserved win @lionsdenkxip#RCBvKXIP— Vinod Kambli (@vinodkambli349) October 15, 2020
So two Bangalore boys and one honorary Bangalore citizen combine to beat Royal Challengers Bangalore.
— Shashank Kishore (@captainshanky) October 15, 2020
