The Kings XI Punjab, overcame a stunning late strike, yesterday, from AB de Villiers, in a clinical fashion to beat Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) by eight wickets in Indore.
Kings XI were the last team to win in the previous season, however, it has done well to record their second win in a row, ensuring a perfect start, in this campaign. rs. RCB sprung a huge surprise as they replaced Chris Gayle with AB De Villiers who will be playing his first IPL 2017 game. The only positive side for RCB in the game, was the electrifying return to action by AB de Villiers. He cracked a typically, brilliant, unbeaten 89 off jus 46 balls, with three fours, and nine sixes.
Hashim Amla (Kings XI), is not the first name that comes to mind, when one thinks of an explosive batsman. He not only showed all those abilities for Kings XI Punjab, by scoring his second-half century of the Indian Premier League, but guided his team to an eight-wicket victory.
Against RCB, Amla struck three sixes and four fours, to reach his half-century in just 32 balls. The batsman stayed unbeaten on 58 off 38 balls, and his partnerships with Manan Vohra (34, 21b, 4x4, 1x6) and Glenn Maxwell (22b, 3x4, 4x6), made the run chase extremely easy for Kings XI Punjab.
Skipper Glenn Maxwell scored a 22-ball 43 to seal the chase of 149 in 14.3 overs.
The RCB, were in for some early struggle after losing three wickets within the Power play overs. The signs were unfavorable, when Shane Watson ((22b, 3x4, 4x6), dragged one from left-arm spinner, Axar Patel. For KXIP, fast bowler Varun Aaron was included in place of Swapnil Singh. Varun Aaron took two wickets, while Sandeep Sharma and Axar Patel claimed one each to put pressure on the visitors.
Playing For RCB: Shane Watson ©, Vishnu Vinod (W), AB De Villiers, Kedar Jadhav, Mandeep Singh, Stuart Binny, Pawan Negi, Iqbal Abdulla, Tymal Mills, Billy Stanlake, Yuzvendra Chahal.
Playing for Kings XI Punjab: Manan Vohra, Hashim Amla, Wriddhiman Saha (W), Glenn Maxwell ©, David Miller, Marcus Stoinis, Axar Patel, Mohit Sharma, Sandeep Sharma, Varun Aaron, T Natarajan.
Royal Challengers Vs Kings XI Punjab
148/4 (20) 150/2 (14.3)
Score Card:
Hardik Pandya Nitish Rana Help Mumbai Indians Seal Their First Win In IPL
By Supraja
