Thanks to Hashim Amla’s sensible knock of 65 runs and some disciplined bowling performances by spinners KC Cariappa and Axar Patel, Kings XI Punjab defeated Gujarat Lions by 26 runs at the Saurashtra Cricket Association Stadium in Rajkot on April 23.
Asked to bat first by Gujarat Lions skipper Suresh Raina, Kings XI Punjab managed to put a mammoth 188 runs total on the scoreboard in their quota of 20 overs. Hashim Amla, who came to open the innings for Punjab with Manan Vohra, played a gem knock of 65 runs off 40 balls.
Amla, who lost his opening partner in the second over, shared a 70-run stand for the second wicket with Shaun Marsh. The Australian Marsh too played an anchor knock of 30 off 24 balls. The partnership was broken in the 10th over. Amla during his stay smashed 9 fours and 2 sixes.
Then came skipper Maxwell who took only 18 deliveries to score 31 before being dismissed lbw against left-arm spinner Ravindra Jadeja in the 14th over. Some late fireworks by Axar Patel, who smashed 34 off just 17 deliveries, helped Punjab in setting up of a mammoth total of 188 runs.
For Gujarat Lions, Andrew Tye claimed two wickets while Shubham Agrawal, Nathu Singh, Ravindra Jadeja and Dwayne Smith picked one wicket each.
Match 26. It’s all over! Kings XI Punjab won by 26 runs https://t.co/7Y5dbSIBKq #GLvKXIP
— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) April 23, 2017
In reply, Gujarat had a disastrous start to their run chase as they kept losing wickets at regular intervals. For Gujarat, Dinesh Karthik top scored with runs. During his stay he smashed 6 fours. He remained not out till the end.
#IPL Match 26: @lionsdenkxip 188/7 beat @TheGujaratLions 162/7 by 26 runs. Relive the game – https://t.co/Ey3yg47fxS #GLvKXIP pic.twitter.com/ATX9GbJ9C3
— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) April 23, 2017
Besides Karthik, no other GL batsmen performed and they could only manage to score 162/7 in their quota of 20 overs.
For KXIP, KC Cariappa , Axar Patel and Sandeep Sharma were the pick of the bowlers picking two wickets each while Mohit Sharma claimed one.
