Kings XI Punjab (KXIP) have finally managed to put an end to their losing streak of five matches as their 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.
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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.
Hits
KL Rahul
KL Rahul did not take long to make a comeback as the highest-ranked Indian T20I batsman played the captain’s knock. He remained unbeaten on 61 off just 49 balls. He built solid partnerships with Agarwal and Gayle of 78 and 93 runs respectively. He smashed just one four and as many as five sixes.
Chris Gayle
Chris Gayle was playing his first game of the IPL 2020 and all eyes were on him and he started his innings cautiously, after hitting a couple of sixes in the 13th overs, there was no looking back for Gayle as he smashed 53* off 45 balls with the help of just one four and as many as five sixes.
Flops
Mohammad Siraj
Mohammad Siraj never looked at his best against the KXIP batsmen as his 9 runs and when he came out to bowl in the 16th over, KXIp needed 46 runs and he went on to conceded 20 runs.
Washington Sundar
In the last few games, it had happened for the first time, the Washington Sundar didn’t get to bowl in the powerplay. Even in his final over when KXIp was requiring 26 off the four overs, he was required to bowl an economical over, but Gayle smashed him for 15 runs. In the batting as well, despite coming ahead of Ab de Villiers he scored 13 off 14 balls.
