Champions League Twenty20, Highlights: Kings XI Punjab Crush Northern Knights, Make it to Semifinals
Fluent half-centuries by Virender Sehwag and Manan Vohra and a four-wicket haul by Karanveer Singh helped Kings XI Punjab beat Northern Knights by 120 runs to reach the last four of the Champions League Twenty20. Catch all the highlights here.
Karanveer Singh and Akshar Patel picked up six wickets between them as Kings XI Punjab stormed through to the semifinals. Catch all the highlights of the match here: (LIVE SCORECARD | POINTS TABLE)
23:14 IST: That's the end of that! Karanveer Singh picked up his fourth wicket to remove Boult. Knights are all out for 95 and Kings XI Punjab win by 120 runs to reach the semifinals.
23:10 IST: That's about all over for the Knights, who have lost three wickets in the last five overs; one a run out and Karanveer and Akshar Patel have struck too. Knights are 94/9 chasing 216 vs Kings XI Punjab.
22:58 IST: WICKET! Karanveer Singh removes BJ Watling as Northern Knights slip to 87/6; the challenge is all but over for the Kiwis, who are chasing a steep 216.
22:54 IST: WICKET! The Kiwi challenge is coming to a swift end here, with Maxwell running out Styris for 4. Knights are in a hopeless situation at 81/5 off 10.1 overs, chasing 216.
22:48 IST: WICKET! This is a superb phase in the game for KXIP, who have dominated most of it anyway. Karanveer Singh removed Daniel Flynn for 12 as the Northern Knights slipped to a precarious 76/4 off 9 overs.
22:38 IST: WICKET! Things are falling apart for Northern Knights as they collapse to 64/3 in the 7th over with the exit of Anton Devcich for 28.
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22:34 IST: WICKET! Williamson has been snapped up by Thisara Perera and Knights are 58/2 off 5.4 over, chasing 216 vs Kings XI Punjab.
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22:27 IST: Anton Devich and Williamson are beginning to look extremely dangerous; 42/1 off 4.2 overs and they are in touch with the required run-rate. This could well turn out to be a thrilling chase.
22:22 IST: Kane Williamson, who scored a hundred a few days back, is looking in fine touch again. KXIP are defending a mammoth total but they cannot rest in peace as long as this man is at the crease.
22:14 IST: WICKET! Huge blow for Northern Knights, who have lost the dangerous Daniel Harris to Anureet Singh; the Kiwis are 10/1 in the second over chasing 216 to win.
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21:55 IST: That's the end of their innings and KXIP are 215/5 , thanks to fifties from Vohra and Sehwag and a cameo by Miller.
21:49 IST: Miller hits a huge six and a four as KXIP reach 200/5 off 18.5 overs
21:47 IST: WICKET! That's the end of George Bailey, who tried to hit Scott Styris out of the park, only to be well caught by Devcish in the deep. KXIP 188/5 off 18.1 overs.
21:38 IST: Bailey and Milller are putting the finishing touches for Punjab. This is good, aggressive batting by the hosts, who have been relentless despite losing wickets in the last few overs. KXIP 175/4 off 17 overs.
21:28 IST: WICKET! Sehwag has perished for 52 off 37 balls. The Knights are trying to pull it back with some quick wickets as KXIP reach 151/4 off 14.5 overs.
21:24 IST: Soon after, Sehwag brings up his 50, what a knock this is. Punjab are 148/3 in 14 overs and Knights are looking at a huge chase here.
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21:22 IST: WICKET! Ish Sodhi takes his second wicket as he picked up the dangerous Glenn Maxwell for 7. KXIP are 144/3 in the 14th over.
21:18 IST: Meanwhile, in some other cricket related news, star India batsman Ajinkya Rahane has tied the knot with Radhika Dhopva. Here is a picture of the newly wedded couple.
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21:14 IST: WICKET! Perera falls for 16 and KXIP are 132/2 off 11.5 overs. That brings Maxwell to the crease with an aggressive Sehwag. There seems to be no end to Knights' misery.
21:01 IST: There is just no respite for Northern Knights; Boult dragged it in short and Thisara Perera hammers it into the stands. What a cracking shot that was. KXIP 112/1 in 9.3 overs.
20:56 IST: Vohra has finally fallen, after carting Ish Sodhi for two straight sixes, the KXIP opener holds out in the deep. But Northern Knights cannot breathe a sigh of relief. They still have the dangerous trio of Maxwell, Miller and Bailey coming up.
20:51 IST: Vohra brings up his fifty off just 28 balls as KXIP destroy the Knights attack with sheer disdain. At the other end, Sehwag is going ballistic too.
20:42 IST: KXIP are off to a blazing start here; they are 56/0 off 5 overs after being asked to bat by the Kiwis. Vohra is looking extremely destructive and Sehwag has looked solid. The Knights must be a worried lot.
20:40 IST: Just a thought; even as the likes of Vohra, Saha, Mohit Sharma, Ishwar Pandey, Kuldeep Yadav make their reputation in the CLT20, imagine how much they could have done in the Asian Games, where Pakistan won a gold in the women's cricket event.
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20:38 IST: FOUR! Another sweetly timed shot by Vohra; he slams Southee to the fence as KXIP continue to dominate with their openers.
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20:35 IST: SIX! Sehwag cuts Scott Kuggeleijn over third man - what a short from the wily old man. KXIP 40/0 off four overs.
20:30 IST: FOUR! Cheeky from Sehwag as he cuts Boult over first slip. This is beginning to be a very strong start for KXIP, who have the likes of Maxwell, Miller and Bailey to follow. There's some serious firepower down that batting order.
20:29 IST: Vohra is on fire, as he belts Tim Southee for a SIX! KXIP have got off to a good start here, racing away to 24/0 off 2 overs.
20:22 IST: Manan Vohra plays two cracking shots, two back-to-back FOURS, which were crisply timed. KXIP 11/0 off the first over.
20:14 IST: After a thrilling game between Cobras and Barbados, KXIP are faced with the prospect of a match against the Knights. Punjab will need to win this one to ensure a semifinal spot. Can Miller, Maxwell and Sehwag come to the party?
20:10 IST: Playing XI:
Kings XI Punjab: V Sehwag, M Vohra, WP Saha (WK), GJ Maxwell, DA Miller, GJ Bailey (C), NLTC Perera, AR Patel, Karanveer Singh, P Awana, Anureet Singh
Northern Districts: AP Devcich, KS Williamson, DJ Harris, DR Flynn (C), BJ Watling (WK), DJ Mitchell, SB Styris, SC Kuggeleijn, TG Southee, IS Sodhi, TA Boult
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20:03 IST: Northern Knights have won the toss and will bowl against Kings XI Punjab. Kings XI unchanged while Boult has replaced Harris for Knights.
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Kings XI are presently at the second position in Group B with two wins from as many games. Hobart Hurricanes are leading the group with two wins from three matches while the Knights are in the third position after registering one victory and as many loss.
Kings XI hold a 100 per cent record in their home turf so far, winning both of their opening games against Hobart Hurricanes and Barbados Tridents with relatively consummate ease.
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On the other hand, the Knights, who notched up a win in their first group match against Cape Cobra riding on the back of Kane Williamson's unbeaten 101 and Anton Devcich's strokeful 67, will be somewhat down after their loss to Hobart Hurricanes on Tuesday.
The thing which would be worrying the Knights more was the manner of their defeat against Hurricanes. The Australian side produced a commanding performance to hammer their Trans-Tasman rivals by 86 runs at Raipur.
Chasing a challenging 178 set by Hurricanes, the Knights' innings never got going as they lost wickets at regular intervals and were ultimately bundled out for just 92 in 16.2 overs.
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Bailey Wants KXIP to Play at Their Best
Kings XI Punjab skipper George Bailey said that their opponents in Friday's Champions League T20 game, the Northern Knights, cannot be taken lightly and his team will have to be at its very best to beat them.
Bailey, who has led the IPL finalists with back-to-back wins and need another victory to earn a semi-final berth, said that he has a lot of respect for the Northern Knights.
"I think they are a very very strong side, they have played some great cricket. I know it is going to be a really big challenge. And certainly as far as us making the semi-finals, we know we have to still win one of the next two games," Bailey said ahead of the match to be played at the PCA Stadium in Mohali.