IPL 7, KKR vs KXIP, Highlights: Spectacular bowling performance helps Kings XI Punjab remain unbeaten

Kings XI Punjab defeated the Kolkata Knight Riders by 23 runs. Catch all the highlights here (Scorecard | Commentary | Points Table | Full Schedule):

 

Sandeep Sharma, man-of-the-match: It is a big moment for me and I am enjoying myself. I have been expressing myself. I get good swing, so I like bowling with the new ball.

That's the end of this game. It's yet another double header on Sunday in Sharjah. Delhi Daredevils vs Mumbai Indians followed by Sunrisers Hyderabad vs Chennai Super Kings.

 

George Bailey, Kings XI Punjab captain: Our bowlers won us the game. We were in a good position but we were a few runs short; our bowlers were outstanding tonight. We got it wrong with our batting tonight - one of me or Viru or Miller should have stayed on till the end. We just left too much to do for the tailenders.

 

Gautam Gambhir, Kolkata Knight Riders captain: I think the bowlers did a fantastic job by restricting Kings XI Punjab to 132. I thought it was chaseable and we should have got the runs. Suryakumar Yadav is a talented cricketer ans he will get many more opportunities at a better number.

 

23:25 (IST): Kings XI Punjab win by 23 runs. Kolkata Knight Riders came close to ending Kings XI Punjab's winning streak, when they restricted them to 132/9, thanks to spinners Piyush Chawla and Sunil Narine, but they missed the bus after a poor batting performance. The Knight Riders were never in the hunt as they lost early wickets, including the crucial ones of Manish Pandey, Gautam Gambhir and Jacques Kallis. There was no resistance and no partnership in the middle of the innings as Sandeep Sharma, Akshar Patel, L Balaji, Rishi Dhawan and Mitchell Johnson continued to chip away at the wickets. This was Kings XI Punjab's fourth victory on the trot and KKR's second loss in four games.

 

23:18 (IST): FOUR! Suryakumar Yadav has something to say in this game yet. He has suddenly moved to 30 off 15 balls with a few brutal hits. FOUR! A top edge runs off to the fence over the 'keeper's head. WICKET! That's the end of Suryakumar Yadav's innings - a good effort by him comes to an end and he becomes Sandeep Sharma's third victim. KKR 103/9 off 17.3 overs.

 

23:11 (IST): WICKET! Narine tried to give Mitch Johnson the charge but had his timber rattled instead as Kings XI Punjab edged closer to a sensational win.

 

22:59 (IST): Kolkata Knight Riders are 66/7 after 14 overs and are virtually out of the game. Seems like another one-sided game.

 

22:57 (IST): WICKET! Another one for Patel, who lures Chawla out of the crease, allowing Saha to whip the bails off in a flash. KKR are 65/7 in 13.4 overs.

 

22:53 (IST): WICKET! Uthappa is run out, thanks to a direct hit from Bailey. KKR are 62/6, with 71 runs needed from seven overs.

22:50 (IST): WICKET! Yusuf Pathan falls LBW to Dhawan, another disappointing performance by him. KKR are 59/5 off 12.3 overs and need a miracle to turn this match around as Suryakumar Yadav joins Uthappa in the middle.

 

22:48 (IST): FOUR! Nice looking reverse sweep from Uthappa and the ball races away to the fence. Yusuf Pathan, at the other end, will need to bring out his big shots sooner rather than later. KKR really up against it. KKR: 57/4 after 12 ocvers.

 

22:44 (IST): WICKET! Patel removes Lynn as KKR slip into further trouble - they are now 50/4 off 11.1 overs.

 

22:42 (IST): FOUR! Bad line from Balaji and Lynn punishes it. KKR need a move on here, with the required rate now touching 9 an over.

 

23:39 (IST): Halfway through the innings, KKR are 43/3 and need another 90 from 60 balls.

 

22:34 (IST): FOUR! Lynn charges down the gap and hammers it down mid-off. Poor bowling from Dhawan and he gets what he deserved.

 

22:32 (IST): Rishi Dhawan into the attack after the timeout. Uthappa on strike for KKR with the required rate now over 8 an over.

 

22:29 (IST): Good first over from Akshar Patel as he gives away just three runs. KKR are 31/3 off 8 and it's strategic timeout.

 

22:27 (IST): Preity Zinta is one of those owners that's never shy of being expressive. She got her smile back after a dismal batting performance, when KXIP took out three big KKR batsmen, defending a small total. Her energy can be infectious for Bailey's men.

 

22:24 (IST): KKR have no reason to panic yet - they just need one good partnership here. Co-owner Juhi Chawla was seen trying to pep her boys up in the middle. Can Lynn and Uthappa deliver?

 

22:22 (IST): End of the powerplay and KKR have managed only 24/3. They need 109 more from 14 overs with Lynn and Uthappa in the middle. These two have to play key roles tonight.

 

22:19 (IST): FOUR! Uthappa gets off the mark with a boundary. Balaji went down the leg-side and Uthappa was quick to get some bat on it.

 

22:17 (IST): WICKET! Balaji has got the big one here, as Kallis departs. Kings XI Punjab are fighting their way back into the game. KKR are 19/3 off 5.1 overs.

 

22:10 (IST): WICKET! Gambhir opened his account but soon after perished to Sandeep Sharma, as KKR slumped to 19/2 off 4.1 overs, chasing 133 for a win. Lynn joins Kallis in the middle.

 

22:09 (IST): A huge cheer across the ground as Gambhir gets off the mark, for the first time in this year's IPL. The KKR camp must be a lot more relaxed too as Kallis sends Johnson crashing for a FOUR! KKR 19/1 off 4 overs.

 

22:04 (IST): Gambhir in the middle - he has three ducks so far from his previous ducks and almost made it four out of four. The leading edge fell wide off a diving Sharma.

 

22:02 (IST): WICKET! Sandeep Sharma traps Pandey LBW as KKR lose their first wicket in a small chase. KKR 13/1 off 2.4 overs.

 

21:57 (IST): FOUR! Lovely cover drive by Kallis as Johnson pitches up. Good start to the chase by KKR.

 

21:55 (IST): Mitchell Johnson to bowl the second over.

 

21:54 (IST): FOUR! Poor line from Sharma and Pandey was quick to reach out and smack it over cover point.

 

21:49 (IST): Manish Pandey to take strike for the Knight Riders as they chase 133 for victory. Sandeep Sharma with the new ball for Kings XI Punjab and he starts with a wide down the leg-side.

 

21:34 (IST): Kings XI Punjab were restricted to a modest 132/9 in their 20 overs, thanks to three wicket hauls by Piyush Chawla (3/19) and Sunil Narine (3/24) after Kolkata Knight Riders decided to bowl after winning the toss. Kings XI lost Pujara and Saha early in the piece and though Sehwag promised to play the anchor role, KKR struck regularly and once Maxwell and Miller were sent back, KXIP were in serious trouble. They were looking at Bailey to help Sehwag out and get a respectable total but Chawla and Narine were too hot to handle on a day when another leg-spinner made a huge impact in the previous match.

 

21:28 (IST): WICKET! Balaji survived the hat-trick ball but played the next ball across the line and fell LBW to Narine. He gets his third. KXIP are 126/9 off 18.4 overs

 

21:26 (IST): WICKET! Narine is too hot to handle again. Johnson is bowled first ball and Narine is on a hat-trick. KXIP are 126/8 off 18.2 overs.

21:25 (IST): WICKET! Patel danced down the pitch but he was all at sea against that Narine delivery. Easy stumping chance for Uthappa, who does not make a mistake. KXIP are 126/7 off 18.1 overs.

 

21:24 (IST): KXIP are 126/6 after 18 overs as Morne Morkel bowls out. 4-0-26-1. A good day's work from the tall South African.

 

21:21 (IST): FOUR! That's a good start. Dhawan slaps it over mid-on and fetches some useful runs for his side. They'll need a few more of those.

 

21:20 (IST): Morkel back on for his last over - time is fast running out for the Kings XI Punjab. They need to make this a big one somehow.

 

21:19 (IST): Just four off that Narine over as KXIP move to 118/6 after 17.

 

21:17 (IST): Narine back in the attack, with four overs left in the KXIP innings. Meanwhile, Chawla has finished with figures of 3/19 off four overs.

 

21:14 (IST): Chawla will bowl out here. Can he prize out another wicket before he finishes?

 

21:09 (IST): Kallis back into the attack. Rishi Dhawan and Akshar Patel have their task cut out against a terrific KKR bowling line-up.

 

21:06 (IST): WICKET! Chawla is on fire as he removes Sehwag, leaving Kings XI Punjab in a spot of bother. KXIP are 103/6 after 14 overs and it's strategic timeout.

 

21:03 (IST): WICKET! Chawla gets another big one, removes the dangerous George Bailey. The chunk of the Punjab firepower is now back in the dugout. KXIP are 101/5 in the 14th over.

 

21:01 (IST): Narine gives away just five runs off the over and KXIP are 99/4 with seven more to go.

 

20:59 (IST): Narine back into the attack after an expensive over, where he conceded 14.

 

20:57 (IST): FOUR! Back of a length from Chawla and Sehwag slices that through the off-side. The leggie has to do better than that. KXIP are 94/4 off 12 overs.

 

20:55 (IST): FOUR! Sehwag finishes off the over well as KXIP reach 87/4 off 11 overs.

 

20:53 (IST): FOUR! Slightly short from Yadav and Bailey pulls that away to the fence in style.

 

20:51 (IST): Halfway through the innings, KXIP are 76/4, with Sehwag now being joined by Bailey in the middle.

 

20:49 (IST): WICKET! Chawla strikes and gets Miller. What a moment in the game this is. Miller charged Chawla but holds out to Morkel in the deep. KXIP are 74/4 in 9.4 overs.

 

20:46 (IST): Piyush Chawla into the attack after the timeout. Up against the might of Sehwag and Miller.

 

20:42 (IST): FOUR! Miller clobbers Kallis through the on-side. FOUR! A great looking shot from Miller, driven through covers on that occasion. Great shot. Twelve off the over. KXIP are 71/3 after 9 overs and it's the strategic timeout.

 

20:39 (IST): KKR are 59/3 after 8 overs. David Miller is in the middle with Sehwag.

 

20:36 (IST): WICKET! There's the big one. Morne Morkel castles Glenn Maxwell for 15 off 12 balls. Preity Zinta has a shocked look on her face. KXIP are 58/3 off 7.4 overs.

 

20:28 (IST): FOUR! Switch hit from Maxwell and Narine is under pressure here from two batsmen, who will target him. Fourteen have come off the over. KXIP are 51/2 after the 6th.

 

20:27 (IST): SIX! Narine in the attack but Sehwag swings and swings hard as the ball flies into the stands. He will not let any spinner settle in.

 

20:26 (IST): FOUR! Maxwell is underway, sends Kallis to the fence. KXIP are 37/2 after 5 overs.

 

20:20 (IST): WICKET! Kallis strikes off his first ball, nails Saha who was looking to explode. He departs for 14 as KXIP reach 28/2 off 4.1 overs.

 

20:18 (IST): SIX! Saha is packing a punch here. A sensational shot off a fast delivery and it's maximum for the batsman. KXIP are 28/1 off four overs.

 

20:17 (IST): FOUR! Saha takes on the pace of Morkel - fighting fire with fire, says Harsha Bhogle on air. KXIP have of course enough firepower in their ranks.

20:14 (IST): FOUR! Sehwag hammers Yadav to the fence, it dropped just short of the ropes. Could have so easily been a six.

 

20:12 (IST): Wriddhiman Saha has joined Sehwag in the middle and they will be under pressure from two quality fast bowlers here.

 

20:08 (IST): WICKET! Good work from Manish Pandey whose direct hit catches Pujara short of the ground, soon after he had survived a catch behind the wickets. KXIP are 9/1 off 2 overs.

 

20:05 (IST): No-ball from Morne Morkel and it costs KKR the wicket of Pujara, who was caught behind the wickets. How costly will that be for the Knight Riders?

 

20:04 (IST): KXIP are 7/0 off the first over. Pujara is looking aggressive in the middle. What will Sehwag come up with tonight?

 

20:02 (IST): FOUR! A widish half-volley from Umesh Yadav and Pujara gives it the treatment. Good way to start the innings.

 

19:41 (IST): Here are the playing XIs

Kolkata Knight Riders: Jacques Kallis, Gautam Gambhir (Captain), Manish Pandey, Chris Lynn, Yusuf Pathan, Robin Uthappa (WK), Suryakumar Yadav, Piyush Chawla, Sunil Narine, Morne Morkel, Umesh Yadav

Kings XI Punjab: Cheteshwar Pujara, Virender Sehwag, Glenn Maxwell, David Miller, George Bailey (Captain), Mitchell Johnson, Wriddhiman Saha (WK), Akshar Patel, Lakshmipathy Balaji, Rishi Dhawan, Sandeep Sharma

 

19:32 (IST): Kolkata Knight Riders won the toss and decided to bowl against Kings XI Punjab. One change for KKR: Piyush Chawla in for Vinay Kumar. KXIP are unchanged.

 

PREVIEW

Kolkata Knight Riders face the daunting task of stopping the marauding pair of Glenn Maxwell and David Miller in its tracks when they clash with Kings XI Punjab in an Indian Premier League match here on Saturday.

Maxwell has been in supreme touch since the start of the league, having trampled the rival bowling attacks with utter disdain. The Australian batsman literally toys with the bowlers as he hits them out of the park at will. With 279 runs at an incredible average of 93, Maxwell has hit an astonishing 17 sixes and 28 fours in three matches so far in an amazing display of power-hitting.

It will be interesting to see if Maxwell can bat the same way against wily spinner Sunil Narine, who has bamboozled even the good batsmen and has been economical at the same time.

KKR have also been blessed with the talent and experience of veteran all-rounder Jacques Kallis in the side. They will surely look up to the South African legend to produce something magical to dismiss Maxwell early. (Read full preview)

 

 

SEHWAG ENJOYS MAXWELL'S COMPANY

Virender Sehwag is full of praise of Glenn Maxwell. The young Aussie has been the toast of the Indian Premier League 2014 and according to Sehwag, Maxwell has made a positive impact on Kings XI Punjab. On Saturday, Maxwell faces an acid test as he faces up to Sunil Narine, the Kolkata Knight Riders mystery spinner.

Maxwell - who leads the tournament with 279 runs at 93.00 with a strike rate of 212.97 - will look to continue his recent good run of form against Kolkata Knight Riders. Sehwag says Maxwell doesn't live off his past and treats every day as a new one. Times of India has quoted Sehwag as saying: "It is great to have Maxwell with us in the team. After the match, he forgets what he did on the field, and is very humble."

A winning team means a happy dressing room and if Kings XI Punjab are having a lot of fun in this IPL, a lot of credit can go to the energy Maxwell is bringing to the team. With an unbeaten record in three matches so far, Kings XI have the highest net run-rate too, followed by Chennai Super Kings and Royal Challengers Bangalore.

"His positive energy is infectious, and he loves to play golf and goof around. It's a great atmosphere in the dressing room with Maxwell being there," says Sehwag, who scored an entertaining 30 against Sunrisers Hyderabad in Sharjah on Tuesday. "It's nice to hit some good form. Hope to do better," said Sehwag, who wants to play international cricket for at least another two years. (Read full story)

 

 

KINGS XI PUNJAB'S AUSSIE CONNECTION

Even before the Indian Premier League was first launched in 2008, it was always thought during its idea days that foreign players would feature in a big way in the tournament. Players of different countries would play with and against each other, a factor which would attract the crowds in large numbers. However, an assessment of the seven seasons of the IPL shows a stark revelation.

The Kings XI Punjab franchise under the ownership of Preity Zinta have always gone on to sign a large contingency of Australian cricketers during each auction. It almost seems that Preity has a knack of getting players from Down Under. Since 2008, the likes of Brett Lee, Shaun Marsh, David Hussey, Glenn Maxwell, Mitchell Johnson, James Faulkner, Adam Gilchrist, Ryan Harris, James Hopes and Simon Katich have graced the Punjab jersey at one time or another during the history of the tournament. Gilchrist and Hussey even had the honour of leading the side and the baton of captaincy has now been passed to Australia's current T20 skipper, George Bailey.

The fact that most Australian players have played for Punjab so far during seven editions of the IPL cannot be a mere coincidence. Cricket, like all other sports, is a game where the mental element has a big role to play over most things that happen on the field or off it. So let's consider the various factors. (Punjab's love affiar with Australia)