CLT20: Kings XI Punjab Beat Cape Cobras to Finish Unbeaten in Group B

A clinical Kings XI Punjab steamrolled Cape Cobras by seven wickets for their fourth win in a row as they ended their Group B engagements with a flourish in the Champions League Twenty20 tournament, here on Sunday. (Scorecard | Highlights)

With this win, Punjab, who have already qualified for the semifinals, have finished on top of Group B with 16 points and will enter the knockout stage unbeaten.

The hosts were in complete control of the inconsequential rubber as they won the toss, shot out the South African side for a mere 135 in 18.3 overs and then overhauled the target without any fuss with 11 balls to spare overs at PCA stadium.

It was Punjab bowlers who set up the win as paceman Anureet Singh (3/12) and spinner Akshar Patel (3/15) shared six wickets between them.

Richard Levi top-scored for the South African side with his 42-run knock but it was Hashim Amla who provided impetuous to their innings at start with his blistering 22-ball 40.

Amla and Levi were only ones who put up some resistance as other Cobras batsmen failed to get going and were bowled out without completing their 20-overs quota.

Cobras were 105 for two in the 13th over and lost last eight wickets for addition of just 30 runs.

None of the Punjab batsmen set the field on fire but the target was so modest that their small contributions were enough for the easy win.

Virender Sehwag (23) looked in good touch as he played some delectable drives on the off side before being dismissed by Robin Peterson.

The other Punjab opener Manan Vohra (23) became second victim of Peterson as the left-arm spinner gave away just 19 runs in his four overs.

Big-hitting batsman Glenn Maxwell (23) hit a six each off Omphile Ramela and Sybrand Engelbrecht but he also could not last long. Wriddhiman Saha kept holding the one end as he guided the side home with his 35-ball 42.

Saha hit three boundaries, including a six, in his innings while David Miller finished unbeaten on 16.

Saha was excellent behinds the wickets also as he effected two stumpings and took one catch. Earlier, the two  Cobras openers put on 60 runs for the opening wicket and that was only bright spot for the South African side after they were asked to take first strike.

Anureet got into action after Cobras had lost their top-order batsmen as he began with the wicket of Stiaan van Zyl before getting two lower-order batsmen.

Patel accounted for Sybrand Engelbrecht (5), Justin Kemp (2) and Vernon Philander (5).

Amla along with Levi made a fiery start for the Cobras as they creamed off 59 runs in the Powerplay overs.

Amla, particularly, was harsh on the host bowlers as he punished them with seven fours and a six in his pacy knock.

With nothing working, Punjab skipper George Bailey introduced Karanveer Singh and the young leg-spinner responded by dismissing the dangerous-looking Amla.

Levi, who was going a-run-a-ball so far, opened his arms and lifted Karanveer for a huge six over long-off, continuing where Amla had left.

The new batsman in Omphile Ramela (12) though did not last long, falling to a poor shot off paceman Thisara Perera.

Runs dried up as hosts took control over the proceedings with some good bowling. Levi brought up the hundred of the innings with a six off Glenn Maxwell but the bowler had revenge two balls later when the Australian held on to a difficult caught and bowled chance.

Losing a set batsman was not what Cobras wanted. But the misery did not end here as they continued to lose batsmen.

Paceman Parvinder Awana got rid of Dane Vilas (10) and Patel saw the back of Sybrand Engelbrecht (5). Anureet then polished of the tail.