IPL 7, KXIP vs SRH, Highlights: Maxwell, Balaji script third successive victory for Kings XI Punjab

Kings XI Punjab defeated Sunrisers Hyderabad by 72 runs in Sharjah on Tuesday. Catch all the highlights here (Scorecard | Commentary | Points Table):

Glenn Maxwell, Man-of-the-Match: I just try and pick certain areas to hit and back that. I have a very simple game plan. The wicket was a little different tonight. I was a bit lucky. The landmarks don't really matter but it will nice to get (to a hundred) there sometime; I want to score more and more runs for the team and just do as good a job as I can.

That's the end of this match. It's Rajasthan Royals vs Chennai Super Kings tomorrow in Dubai.

 

George Bailey, Kings XI captain: Nice to see us put a really good total on the board. It's great to watch Maxwell but we are realistic and we know it's not going to happen every time. The wicket was a little hard to score on but you would not know that from the way Maxwell batted. There will be times when the other guys have to set it up. I am really pleased with the bowling effort. Balaji did really well tonight.

 

Shikhar Dhawan, Sunrisers Hyderabad captain: We dropped too many catches, especially the one of Maxwell which cost us. It was a big batting failure today. When you drop catches and then chase a big total, the batsmen are under pressure but we had to take our risks. The batting group needs to work harder and score big runs.

Lakshmipathy Balaji owns the Purple Cap now, with six wickets: I think in this game, I had to adapt quickly and understand the wicket. You should be able to know what the field-set is. It was a good game and we need to continue on the momentum we have built. It's a good thing we have a three-day break.

 

23:24 IST: Kings XI Punjab defeat Sunrisers Hyderabad by 72 runs. Kings XI Punjab remain unbeaten after three games and Sunrisers Hyderabad remain winless after two. After Glenn Maxwell's 95 powered Kings XI Punjab to 193/3, L Balaji (4/13) did the star turn with the ball, removing Finch and Warner in one over to rock Sunrisers Hyderabad's chase even before it gained any sort of momentum before returning to knock off Darren Sammy, the only man lower down the order, who could have pushed the Sunrisers closer to the target. It was a complete performance by the Kings XI, who rode on Maxwell's third successive half-century and were then well served by their bowlers, who followed Balaji's lead and delivered killer blows throughout the Sunriser innings. Maxwell now owns the Orange Cap and Balaji the Purple Cap.

 

23:19 IST: WICKET! Balaji has knocked off Steyn as SRH reach 118/9 off 18.3 overs. The writing is on the wall.

 

23:14 IST: WICKET! Second one for Johnson as Karn Sharma perishes, holding out to Miller. SRH are 114/8 off 17.3 overs and staring at a humiliating defeat.

 

23:08 IST: Unless the Sunrisers Hyderabad have worked out how to get 86 off 24 balls with four wickets remaining, the timeout was a waste of time. Anyways, Kings XI Punjab would like to complete the formalities soon and celebrate their third successive victory in the IPL 2014.

 

23:04 IST: SIX! Johnson followed him with the short delivery but Karn Sharma clobbered that into the stands. Too little, too late for SRH? And it's a strategic timeout. Wonder what Hyderabad can discuss now! SRH are 108/7 off 16 overs.

 

23:01 IST: Mitchell Johnson back in the attack with SRH on 99/7 off 15 overs. No prizes for guessing whose game this is from hereon.

 

22:57 IST: WICKET! Another one down. Rahul tried to force the issue off Patel but holds out to Miller as SRH were reduced to 95/7 off 14.1 overs.

 

22:53 IST: WICKET! Balaji strikes again and he gets a big wicket again. Sammy tried to clear the in-field but Akshar Patel timed his jump to perfection to take a smart catch. SRH are 93/6 off 13.3 overs.

 

22:52 IST: SRH need 102 from 42 balls as Balaji comes back into the attack. This is now KXIP's game to lose from here and look who can't stop smiling.

 

22:49 IST: SIX! That was the biggest of the tournament - 99 meters and who else could it have been but Sammy! The beginning of an SRH fightback?

 

22:43 IST: Darren Sammy in the middle - if there's one man in the SRH ranks who can turn it around for them, it's Sammy. Can he? Will he? SRH are 79/5 after 11 overs.

 

22:40 IST: WICKET! Irfan Misses and Patel hits. SRH are 74/5 off 10.2 overs.

 

22:39 IST: SIX! Rahul takes full toll as Maxwell lands a poor ball and slogs it over long-on. SRH are 74/4 off 10 overs and they need a few more of those.

22:37 IST: Maxwell in the attack. Irfan Pathan on strike. Can he avenge the brutal hitting earlier this evening?

 

22:33 IST: FOUR! Rahul cracked that through covers. First signs of aggression from him as SRH find the required run rate climbing up steadily.

 

22:31 IST: Dhawan, Finch and Warner are back in the hut but Rameez Raja, on commentary, feels an Irfan Pathan blitz can still take SRH close. Too optimistic? 

 

22:29 IST: Akshar Patel comes on after the timeout - Irfan Pathan the new man in for SRH.

 

22:25 IST: WICKET! Sandeep back into the attack and he gets rid of Rao, who was beginning to attack. SRH are 49/4 after 7 overs and it's strategic timeout.

 

22:20 IST: FOUR! Rao smashes and gets some runs in the process. FOUR! more for Rao, who is looking to attack Rishi Dhawan. Twelve off the over. SRH are 45/3 off 6 overs.

 

22:17 IST: Another bowling change as Rishi Dhawan replaces Johnson.

 

22:14 IST: WICKET! Balaji again and this time he knocks off Warner. What an over this is, could hand the game to Kings XI Punjab. SRH are 33/3 after 5 overs.

 

22:11 IST: WICKET! Beautiful bowling from Balaji and he has disturbed Finch's timber. SRH are 31/2 off 4.3 overs.

 

22:09 IST: Bowling change. Balaji replaces Sandeep Sharma. Balajii will mix the pace and try and make things difficult for the batsmen.

 

22:07 IST: FOUR! Some width from Johnson and Finch latches on to it as the ball scorches the grass on its way to the ropes.

 

22:06 IST: Another no-ball from Johnson. Free-hit again and this time Warner's on strike. But Johnson gets away again - just a single off Warner's gloves.

 

22:04 IST: Johnson oversteps and it's free-hit for SRH. Finch is on strike but he gets only a single off the short ball.

 

22:02 IST: FOUR! Poor line from Sandeep and that's easy pickings for Warner, who is too good to let go of such scoring opportunities. SRH are 22/1 off 3 overs.

 

22:00 IST: Dhawan's exit has brought the Australian opening pair of Warner and Finch together. These two will be key if SRH have to chase down 194 tonight.

 

21:58 IST: FOUR! Finch smashes it off Johnson as SRH move to 16/1 off two overs.

 

21:54 IST: WICKET! Poor shot from Dhawan as Mitchell Johnson strikes right away. This is not the kind of start SRH were looking for. SRH 11/1 in 1.2 overs.

 

21:52 IST: SIX! Meaty blow from Finch and he clobbers that one from Sandeep Sharma into the stands. Good start for Sunrisers Hyderabad. SRH are 11/0 after the first over.

 

21:33 IST: Kings XI Punjab scored 193/6 off their 20 overs, thanks to Glenn Maxwell's 95 off 43 balls. The Australian batsman has scored 95, 89 and 95 from KXIP's three games so far and even through he was unlucky to miss out on another hundred, his team benefited immensely from yet another power-packed innings as Sunrisers Hyderabad were set a daunting target. SRH have a good bowling line-up but KXIP were equal to the task as their openers Virender Sehwag and Cheteshwar Pujara got the side off to a solid start, before Maxwell took control and took the SRH attack to the cleaners. Hyderabad have some top batsmen - the likes of Finch, Warner and Dhawan can be dangerous on their day. Warner, in particular, needs to make amends after dropping Maxwell when he was on 11. Bhuvneshwar Kumar was the best bowler for SRH, picking up 3/19 off his four overs and he played a key role in restricting Punjab from crossing 200 in the end.

 

21:23 IST: WICKET! And Maxwell falls for 95 off 43 balls again. Mishra finally has something to show against the wickets' column but the Australian was unlucky to miss out on a second hundred in three games.

 

21:22 IST: SIX! A full toss from Mishra and Maxwell is not going to miss out on those.

 

21:20 IST: Amit Mishra to Maxwell in the 18th over and he starts with a wide. SIX! Maxwell hammers that out of the ground. What a knock this has been and he's not over by any means.

 

21:16 IST: FOUR! Maxwell digs it out from outside off-stump and the ball races away to the fence where third man fails to cut it off. Steyn is not impressed with the fielding on that occasion.

21:15 IST: Steyn back into the attack. How will Maxwell play him? This could be fun.

 

21:14 IST: Good over from Kumar, just three runs and wicket off it. KXIP are 155/3 after 16 overs.

 

21:10 IST: Kumar back for another spell - he has given away only 8 from his 2 overs so far and WICKET! He gets Miller for 10. A big break for the Sunrisers Hyderabad. KXIP are 154/3 off 15.3 overs.

 

21:04 IST: SIX! Poor bowling from Sammy and he gets the treatment from Maxwell, who hammers his seventh six of the innings. FOUR! Change of pace from Sammy but Maxwell is equal to the task. It's another strategic timeout after 15 overs with KXIP on 152/2.

 

21:01 IST: Free-hit and under dramatic circumstances. Maxwell holds out in the deep off the bowling of Darren Sammy but the umpire checked for the front foot no ball and Sammy was well over the line. Maxwell can't believe his luck. Miller on strike but good ball from Sammy - just a single.

 

20:59 IST: FOUR! Miller plays it on the onside as KXIP reach 139/2 after 14 overs.

 

20:56 IST: SIX! Maxwell cracks that too and races away to his third successive fifty this season and this one has just come off only 21 balls.

 

20:54 IST: SIX! Miller joins the party and that sound echoed through Sharjah, when bat met ball. Mishra is under the pump. Four sixes from the over as KXIP are 123/2 with seven overs to go.

 

20:51 IST: SIX! Maxwell is breathing fire as he sends Amit Mishra out of the park. SIX! Two out of two for Maxwell, who now has 12 sixes from three games. SIX! Three out of three and counting.

 

20:48 IST: SIX! Irfan back into the attack and Maxwell deposits him into the aisles. A brilliant hit and that was his 10th six in the IPL 2014. FOUR! Maxwell picks it off his pads and punishes Irfan for some poor bowling. KXIP are 98/2 after 12 overs.

 

20:45 IST: WICKET! Pujara tries one shot too many and holds out to Rao in the deep. Sammy gets a wicket in his first over. KXIP are 86/2 after 11 overs.

 

20:44 IST: FOUR! Delicately played by Pujara off Sammy. He has been solid in his approach and has yet scored some quick runs.

20:41 IST: SIX! That's the first one from Maxwell. And DROPPED! Maxwell mistimed it off Karn Sharma but David Warner grasses a sitter. Unbelievable, says Rameez Raja on air. Very apt. FOUR! Maxwell is making them pay. It's all happening there in the middle. KXIP are 77/1 after 10 overs.

 

20:33 IST: It's Maxwell time in the middle. He does not take too long to settle down and those booming hits should start coming out soon unless SRH find a way to get rid of him. KXIP are 62/1 after 9 overs. And it's strategic timeout.

 

20:26 IST: WICKET! Sehwag perishes, holds out to Sammy after trying a shot against the spin. SRH have their man but not before he slammed 30 off 21 balls. KXIP are 51/1 off 6.4 overs.

 

20:25 IST: Amit Mishra replaces Kumar. Dhawan has fallen back on his spinners. And SIX! That was brutal from Sehwag as KXIP bring up their 50 in the seventh over.

 

20:23 IST: FOUR! Slight error from Karn Sharma and Pujara slams it to the fence. KXIP are 43/0 after 6 overs.

 

20:22 IST: Karn Sharma into the attack. Can he stem the flow of runs? Sehwag is on song and he would like to take on the young leggie.

 

20:19 IST: FOUR! Wow, that was power from Pujara - he muscled that Steyn delivery to the fence and KXIP are well on their way here. And FOUR!, Pujara clears mid-on this time. Miss Zinta is all smiles in the stands. FOUR! Pujara is all over Steyn, who does not where to go. Sensational stuff from a specialist Test specialist. KXIP 38/0 after five overs.

 

20:17 IST: SIX! Sehwag is on fire here as he takes on Kumar and sends him into the stands.

 

20:11 IST: SIX! That's come off Sehwag's bat against Irfan Pathan. FOUR! Irfan went short and Sehwag treats himself to runs, again behind square of the wicket on the leg-side. Sehwag wants to make a statement here, in his glasses and that heavy bat. Watch out SRH! And another FOUR! That is vintage Sehwag on show here in Sharjah. What an over for KXIP - they have taken 16 off it and are 19/0 after three overs.

 

20:10 IST: Irfan Pathan in the attack - a wonderful chance for him to remind the selectors what he's worth.

 

20:08 IST: Just one off that second over from Kumar. SRH are keeping it nice and tight and they need to for what follows in the KXIP in the batting line-up is dangerous. Maxwell, Miller, Bailey and they can bat. KXIP are 3/0 after 2 overs.

 

20:05 IST: Bhuvneshwar Kumar will share the new ball with Steyn. And he is up against Sehwag who slants his bat across to steal a single.

 

20:04 IST: Good first over from Steyn, just two off it.

 

20:02 IST: Sehwag chases a widish one outside the off-stump. There's a slip in place so Sehwag needs to be careful.

20:00 IST: Steyn with the new ball for SRH as Pujara takes strike for KXIP. This will be an interesting duel - Pujara works that away for a single. That brings Sehwag on strike. How he is going to approach this innings?

 

19:59 IST: The umpires make their way into the middle, Sunrisers Hyderabad in a team-huddle. KXIP openers Sehwag and Pujara walk out. It's game time in Sharjah this Tuesday evening.

 

Here are the playing XIs:

 

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

Sunrisers Hyderabad: Aaron Finch, Shikhar Dhawan (Captain), David Warner, Lokesh Rahul (WK), Darren Sammy, Venugopal Rao, Irfan Pathan, Karn Sharma, Dale Steyn, Amit Mishra, Bhuvneshwar Kumar

 

Sunrisers Hyderabad have opted to field first against the Kings XI Punjab. Irfan Pathan replaces Ishant Sharma for the Sunrisers Hyderabad.

 

It was here in Sharjah that Sachin Tendulkar raised a desert storm against Australia 16 years ago, blasting 143 off 131 balls to help India qualify for the final of the Coca-Cola Cup.

 

Meanwhile, in the developing IPL scam story, the Supreme Court has entrusted Justice Mukul Mudgal to make further investigations. The ambit of the probe will be limited to the 13 names that figure in the sealed envelope that the Mudgal committee submitted to the Supreme Court in February. (Full story here)

 

This is a crucial game for the Sunrisers Hyderabad as they take on a rampaging Kings XI Punjab. SRH got off to a poor start but a win tonight in Sharjah will be a major boost for their confidence after a four-wicket defeat to Rajasthan Royals in their opening game. The batting line-up, studded with the likes of David Warner, Aaron Finch, Shikhar Dhawan and Darren Sammy only managed to put 133/6 on the board, which was overhauled by the Royals despite a determined effort by the SRH bowlers.

Preview

 

Still smarting from their opening loss, Sunrisers Hyderabad will face the arduous task of taming a rampaging Kings XI Punjab when they lock horns in the Indian Premier League at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium here on Tuesday.

The Sunrisers suffered a last-over defeat to Rajasthan Royals when James Faulkner blasted two fours in as many balls to chase down their modest target of 133 on Friday.

The Hyderabad team failed to put up enough runs on the board as skipper Shikhar Dhawan and David Warner lost wickets after setting a foundation and they would look to not repeat the mistake against Punjab, who are on a roll with two wins.

Punjab have proved that no target is stiff enough for them as they chased down scores of 205 and 191 against Chennai Super Kings and Rajasthan Royals respectively with more than an over to spare. (Read the full preview)

Check out the many moods of Preity Zinta as the Kings XI Punjab go on a rampage

 

Maxwell enjoys batting under pressure

 

He has taken the Indian Premier League by storm with a couple of brutal knocks but Kings XI Punjab's Australian import Glenn Maxwell says the mayhem that he causes with his bat is merely a bit of luck and his ability to "manipulate" fielders.

Maxwell steered Kings XI Punjab to a second successive win on Sunday when he struck a blazing knock of 89 which came off 45 deliveries. This came after a his 95-run onslaught against Chennai Super Kings in his team's tournament-opener.

"You don't expect to make two big scores like that in-a-row and I have had a bit of luck as well. Hopefully, the luck stays with me and I can keep making some big scores," Maxwell told IPL's official website. (Read the full story here)

Not happy to leave job unfinished, says Maxwell

 

His blistering 89-run knock set up the Kings XI Punjab's incredible victory over Rajasthan Royals but for Glenn Maxwell it was still an unfinished job as he was not there to hit the winning runs. It was David Miller, who finished it off in style, smashing his way to an unbeaten 19-ball 51 in a successful chase of 192 runs.

"I have a plan for each ball, just try and hit different gaps. Depending on the field they set, I know where the ball is going to be. Worries me more that I was not there at the end to hit the winning runs, that was a job half finished," Maxwell said after the match.  (Read the full story here)