Key Sentence:
- Gayle proved why he is the ‘Universe Boss.’
- To send them home with seven balls to spare, the pair added 100 runs from 61 balls.
- Kings XI Punjab, opting to field, doled out a disciplined bowling display, especially at the back-end.
- Beautifully mixing up his sluggish deliveries, KXIP’s last match hero Jordan pulled it back for his squad.
- Yet Morgan and Gill brilliantly counter-attacked, having boundaries and sixes.
Though Mandeep Singh played through tremendous personal sorrow, Chris Gayle channelled his inner rage as they conjured up another chapter in a beautiful comeback tale for Kings XI Punjab that defeated Kolkata Knight Riders on Monday in the IPL by eight wickets.
Chasing a target of 150, KXIP accomplished the goal of losing just two wickets in 18.5 overs as they have now secured their fifth consecutive match to keep their playoff dreams alive.
Gayle and Mandeep the dynamic duo:
During his innings of 51 out of 29 balls with five sixes, Gayle, who was ignored and was also ill during the first process, proved why he is the ‘Universe Boss.’
As the duo added 100 runs in 10.1 overs, Mandeep, who is mourning the loss of his father anchored the chase with an unbeaten 66 off 56 balls. The Gayle-storm’s influence was such that it rubbed over to Mandeep (8×4, 2×6) who also completed a magnificent sixth half-century IPL.
Playoff dreams are still alive for KXIP:
To send them home with seven balls to spare, the pair added 100 runs from 61 balls. Not only did KXIP’s dream streak of five wins on the bounce carry them to the top-four, but they also opened the table before the penultimate round.
KKR slipped to sixth with 12 points from 12 games as things have gotten more complicated to reach the last four with a negative run rate of (-0.479).
Bowlers also did their job:
Kings XI Punjab, opting to field, doled out a disciplined bowling display, especially at the back-end, to limit Kolkata Knight Riders to a moderate 149/9.
The choice of the Kings XI Punjab bowlers was Mohammed Shami (3/35) whereas leg-spinner Ravi Bishnoi (2/20) & Chris Jordan (2/25) took two wickets each to put brakes on KKR who were first invited to bat.
Not a good day for KKR:
KKR had the positive momentum with opener Shubman Gill (57 out of 45 balls) and skipper Eoin Morgan (40) shooting all cylinders inside the Powerplay after a familiar jittery start.
But by beautifully mixing up his sluggish deliveries, KXIP’s last match hero Jordan pulled it back for his squad, while Bishnoi took Morgan’s precious scalp after KKR hit 54/3 inside the Powerplay.
A deep square leg, Morgan curled out to Murugan Ashwin as Bishoi finished the free-flowing partnership for 81 runs out of 47 balls, and KKR failed to get going from then on.
Earlier, KKR had another sloppy start and appeared in deep trouble despite Shami’s exceptional first over at 10/3 within two overs.
Yet Morgan and Gill brilliantly counter-attacked, having boundaries and sixes. The Powerplay constraints were fully used by the duo, and Shami surrendered 21 runs from his third over.
Gill displayed his pure timing and class, smacking Shami for back-to-back sixes. It was after opener Nitish Rana got out in the span of three balls for a golden duck and Shami dismissed Rahul Tripathi (7) and Dinesh Karthik (0).
