Prior to their last league game against the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) at the PCA Stadium in Mohali, Kings XI Punjab (KXIP) was placed at the bottom of the table on the IPL 2019 points table. But the team played beyond the expectations and took down the table-toppers by six wickets and consequently, finished their campaign above RCB and RR.
During the toss, the CSK skipper, MS Dhoni revealed that they have made no changes to their squad. On the other hand, KXIp had made just one change to their squad as Harpreet Brar came back in to replace Arshdeep Singh.
WATCH – Curran Takes The Best Possible Revenge With Du Plessis
After the early dismissal of Watson, the onus was on the veterans like Faf du Plessis and Suresh Raina and they delivered when it mattered the most by adding as many as 120 runs for the second wicket. Meanwhile, both of them scored the fifties, but Raina was dismissed by Sam Curran in the 17th over. Before the dismissal, Faf had smashed the bowler for a six over the bowler’s head.
After his dismissal, Dhoni came out to bat when Du Plessis was looking all set to make is the first century of the season, but again Curran barred him from doing that by dismissing the batsman with a brilliant yorker in the 19th over. After his dismissal, even Mohammed Shami dismissed, Ambati Rayudu and Kedar Jadhav in the final over and eventually reached the score of 170/5 in their quota of 20 overs.
During the chase, the Punjab openers KL Rahul and Chris Gayle came out all guns blazing as they amassed as many as 68 runs in the powerplay itself, Rahul was the major contributor though as he scored 55 of that. He scored the third fastest fifty of the season. They went on to score as many as 108 runs for opening wicket before Harbhajan Singh dismissing both on back-to-back deliveries in the 11th over.
WATCH – Chahar Caught Gayle Leg Before Wicket
Harbhajan also got the wicket of Mayank Agarwal in his next over, but with the help of some late fireworks from Nicholas Pooran, KXIP managed to chase down the total with six wickets in hand 12 balls to spare.
Brief Score:
Kings XI Punjab – 173/4 (KL Rahul: 71, N Pooran: 36; H Singh: 3/57) defeated Chennai Super Kings – 170/5 (Faf du Plessis: 96, S Raina: 53; S Curran: 3/35) by six wickets and 2 overs to spare
Here is how Twitter reacted to the solitary win of Punjab:
This one's for sadde fans, with love ❤️#SaddaPunjab #KXIPvCSK @klrahul11 pic.twitter.com/mR2vkFdOXj
— Kings XI Punjab (@lionsdenkxip) May 5, 2019
Kings XI Punjab needs to chase this down in 14.2 or fewer overs to bring CSK's NRR below Delhi Capitals.
[15.1 overs if they finish with a Six when scores level]#IPL2019 #KXIPvCSK— Sampath Bandarupalli (@SampathStats) May 5, 2019
"I won't travel in the same bus with KL Rahul and Hardik Pandya" – Harbhajan
Today KL Rahul against Harbhajan
6, 6, 1, 4, 4, 4, 6, 0, 6#KXIPvCSK #IPL2019
— RAJESH SAMAL (@rajesh_offical) May 5, 2019
When u see @klrahul11 scoring at 200+ Strike rate #KXIPvCSK #VIVOIPL2019 #klrahul pic.twitter.com/b6AMwOOuBq
— Bearded_niga (@BeardedNiga) May 5, 2019
Everything aside, this was a really good play today by KXIP. A happy ending at least. Especially The KL Rahul. 🔥❤️🙏 #KXIPforever ❤️
— Vαιbhαv (@beardpencoffee) May 5, 2019
KL Rahul should bat at no 4 for India in WC 2019 and even after that ….. he is playing the spinners nicely …. he is as fit as Virat if not more ….. has a very sound technique as far as white ball is concerned …. yes his red ball game can improve but that's for later…..
— rajarshi chatterjee (@rajarsh62289104) May 5, 2019
Kl Rahul when on song is such a treat to watch. And if he applies himself more at the beginning of the innings, will still be a pretty viable and formidable option in the middle order in the WC!
— Subramanian Sankaran (@SubramanianSan) May 5, 2019
I request BCCI to make Karan Johar the next coach of Indian Cricket team!#KLRahul #HardikPandya
— Prateek Narula (@Pk_Narula) May 5, 2019
When was the last time you seen the universe boss dominating by a non striker pure KLass from KL RAHUL #KLRAHUL #KXIPvCSK
— Ganesh (@withpk219) May 5, 2019
How can anyone compare a 360 degree player #KLRahul with 3D player Vijay Shankar ?? 🤔 #KXIPvCS
— Yash Warrior (@IamYashFan) May 5, 2019
@klrahul11 rest of the season vs KL rahul today #KXIPvCSK #VIVOIPL2019 pic.twitter.com/5h0pVjejw6
— Bearded_niga (@BeardedNiga) May 5, 2019
