Kings XI defend 188 for first away win
Kings XI Punjab defended their score of 188 by 26 runs against Gujarat Lions for their first win on the road this season
Kings XI Punjab defended their score of 188 by 26 runs against Gujarat Lions for their first win on the road this season
Commentator: Alagappan Muthu
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"Very good toss to lose. Wicket got a bit slower and our bowlers bowled really well. Got some wickets in the Poweplay and we were clinical," Glenn Maxwell says after Kings XI have successfully defended their first total this season, "Amla and Marsh are outstanding. Classical batsmen, and for them to get as deep as they did, it allowed the hitters to play their game. Making handy contributions most games, but I would like to make a bit more to make it easier on the lower order. I can't say enough about Cariappa, he bowled the right lengths, him and Axar Patel did a great holding job and kept the run-rate up for them. We have a great group of guys who are easily motivated. The guys have celebrated Hashim and Manan's outstanding innings the other day. I'm uncertain of Hashim's fitness issues, he was pretty sore when I was out there batting with him. Anytime you lose a run of games in a row, you desperately need to turn it around. For us to win this game, after losing the game, on a good wicket, I'm pleased about the character they showed."
Hashim Amla is the Man of the Match for his second fifty-plus score in two matches. He isn't at the presentation.
7.30 pm The toss didn't go Kings XI's way. The middle overs didn't go their way either. But an Amla fifty at the top and Axar's brilliance towards the end of their batting innings gave them a good total to bowl at. But their bowling has been iffy all season and 189 didn't seem impossible for Gujarat Lions. Axar took those odds on again, dismissing Suresh Raina when he was going strong, and then nipped Dwayne Smith out in the death. KC Cariappa was also very good with his offspinners and carrom balls. Finished with 2 for 24. On the back of all that, Kings XI have moved into the top four.
Good innings from Dinesh Karthik though. He picked the right shots to play up against a bowling attack executing their plans to bowl wide yorkers very well. But he just doesn't have a power-hitter's game and that ended up hurting him. ESPNcricinfo's Match Day experts Brad Hogg and Ajit Agarkar are live now, do join them here and here as they discuss this match, and preview the one between RCB and KKR.
"You can't chase 190 every time. Bowlers have to do something. We haven't won any 4 pm games. It's a learning curve for us. Spinners have to step up," Suresh Raina says, "Nathu got cramps, so I had to bowl Smith in the second last over. The bowlers are lacking confidence. They are not executing on match day, they do well in the nets, but not on match day. We thought we could still chase it down, but while we were batting, the wicket got slower and Sandeep and Mohit bowled good slower balls and made it hard for us to hit. At this stage, I can't say anything. We have to go there. Couple of injury issues, but we have to win more games, we can't just talk in training. We'll go to Bangalore, regroup and hopefully we can win"
Thirty six needed off the last over
Axar Patel had a fine all-round day, two wickets to go with his 17-ball 34, leading the Kings XI Punjab past a strong Gujarat Lions side
West Indies allrounder Dwayne Bravo is almost certainly not going to play in the 2017 IPL because of his ongoing rehabilitation for a hamstring injury he suffered in December
Two teams looking to change their fortunes soon face-off in Rajkot - Gujarat have begun their path to recovery but how long will it take Kings XI?
Kings XI Punjab defended their score of 188 by 26 runs against Gujarat Lions for their first win on the road this season
Kings XI Punjab broke their four-game losing streak by defending 188 against Gujarat Lions, a total they built on a quickfire 70-run partnership between Shaun Marsh and Hashim Amla