In the 18th game of IPL 2018, Kings XI Punjab (KXIP) claimed a thrashing victory against the hosts Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) at Eden Gardens on Saturday’s rain-interrupted evening. While KKR scored 191/7 in 20 overs, KXIP was on 96/0 in 8.2 overs before the rain interruption. Later, the match restarted with the new 125 runs target in 13 overs for KXIP which they chased down in 11.1 overs after losing only one wicket.
KXIP won the toss and decided to bowl first. While KKR opener Sunil Narine (1) was dismissed early, another opener Chris Lynn provided an important 72-run partnership with Robin Uthappa for the second wicket that structured the team’s innings.
While Uthappa was out for 34 runs, Lynn carried his innings for the longer knock and put another important 62-run fourth wicket partnership with the skipper Dinesh Karthik. Lynn completed his half-century in 30 balls and played a 74-run knock off 41 balls.
Skipper Karthik also played brilliant firing knock of 43 runs off 28 balls. Shubman Gill also played an important cameo role at the end of that innings as KKR put a total of 191/7 in 20 overs.
Among the KXIP bowlers, Barinder Sran (2/50) and Andrew Tye (2/30) claimed two wickets each while Mujeeb Ur Rahman (1/32) and skipper Ravichandran Ashwin (1/33) picked up one wicket each.
In reply, KXIP openers KL Rahul and Chris Gayle began their innings in a blistering way. At the end of the powerplay, KXIP put 73/0. Before the rain interruption, the visiting team KXIP was batting on 96/0 in 8.2 overs as KL Rahul was batting on 46 off 23 balls and Gayle was unbeaten on 49 off 27 balls.
After the rain interruption, the match restarted as KXIP had new target 125 runs in1 3 overs. It means KXIP needed 29 runs off 28 balls. Gayle and KL Rahul both completed their half-centuries in thrashing way as KKR had no chance to make a comeback in this game.
KXIP chased down the new target in 11.1 overs after losing only one wicket as they won by 9 wickets with 11 balls to spare. While Rahul (60 runs off 27 balls) was dismissed just before reaching the target, Gayle was not out at the end for 62 runs off 38 balls.
Here are some Twitter reactions of the match:
DLS Par Score 65 At 8.2 Overs. #KXIP Well Ahead By 31 Runs. Chris Gayle And KL Rahul Have Slayed It. Both Were #RCB Openers Till Last Year. 😇🙏 #GayleStorm #KKRvKXIP #KKRvsKXIP #RCBvDD #RCBvsDD pic.twitter.com/TTc0W469ke
— Sir Jadeja fan (@SirJadeja) April 21, 2018
Chris Gayle ringing the Death Bell for Bowlers !!#KKRvKXIP pic.twitter.com/dpCCFeuaiK
— Hariharan Durairaj 𝕏🦁🐿️ (@hariharan_draj) April 21, 2018
#KKR Scored 191. That Too When Sunil Narine, Nitish Rana And Andre Russell Failed To Score. Only Team In #IPL Whose All Batsmen Are In Form. Will There Be A #Gaylestorm Tonight? #KKRvKXIP #KKRvsKXIP
— Sir Jadeja fan (@SirJadeja) April 21, 2018
https://twitter.com/SparshTelang/status/986982830180712449
Andre Russell entering Eden Gardens be like. #KKRvKXIP pic.twitter.com/pAGsfqjw4L
— Karan Talwar (@BollywoodGandu) April 21, 2018
It’s not a No Ball. Free Hit for nothing. C’mon, can the third-umpire not step in? Make it possible please. #Tye #KKRvKXIP #IPL
— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) April 21, 2018
Every guy out of RCB starting to perform.#Rahul #Gayle #Watson
— Nikhil 🏏 (@CricCrazyNIKS) April 19, 2018
Doesn't matter whether #RCB play or not…They get troll anyways 😀 #Gayle#KXIPvSRH pic.twitter.com/PeeCdy0ryN
— Ansh 🇮🇳 (@Ansh_MSDian) April 19, 2018
#RCB team & fans after watching #Gayle performance this season.. #KXIPvSRH #SRHvsKXIP pic.twitter.com/ssT81R4qYu
— Sumit Kadel (@SumitkadeI) April 19, 2018
Gayle was unsold in 2011 auction. He replaced Dirk Nannes for RCB and scored a century in his first game against his former team KKR at Eden Gardens.
He was sold on his base price in 2018 auction after going unsold in first 2 round and makes 63 & 104* in first 2 games.
— Bharath Seervi (@SeerviBharath) April 19, 2018
Rain brings relief to KKR from the mauling being handed out by Gayle and Rahul. But it could get worse since the batsmen also get some rest!
— Cricketwallah (@cricketwallah) April 21, 2018
