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IPL PHOTOS: Kings XI maintain their unbeaten run
Brilliant opening spell from Sandeep Sharma, followed by some fiery spell from Mitchell Johnson have Kings XI Punjab maintain their winning run by beating Kolkata Knight Riders by 23 runs.
Kolkata did a good job in restricting Kings XI to 132-9, but a batting collapse meant that they were bundled out for 109 in 18.2 overs.
Earlier, cautious Virender Sehwag and vital contributions from the lower middle order took the score past the 120-run mark.
Kings lose Pujara early
Cheteshwar Pujara, who has played the sheet anchor role to perfection in the previous games for Kings XI was back in the hut early.
Pujara was lucky to survive a caught behind off Morne Morkel as the bowler had over-stepped.
Pujara however couldn’t capitalise as he was run out by Manish Pandey three balls later.
Wriddhiman Saha came in for some rough treatment. Saha tried to meet fire with fire, smoking Morkel for a massive six.
Saha, however, couldn’t continue for long and was snapped by Jacques Kallis in his opening over for 14.
Maxwell, Miller flop this time
Glen Maxwell has been in form of his life. He announced his arrival at the crease with a boundary off Kallis.
He then hit Narine for another boundary. Gambhir decided to bring back Morkel for another spell and worked immediately.
Maxwell, moved across the crease looking to hit one fine, exposed his leg stump and was bowled through the gates.
David Miller like Maxwell started off on an audacious note, stroking Kallis for consecutive boundaries before throwing is wicket to Piyush Chawla.
Chawla, Narine make merry
Chawla, who was included in place of Vinay Kumar, reposed the faith kept in him by skipper by picking up crucial wickets.
After picking up Miller, Chawla sent Kings XI skipper George Bailey back in the hut after he hit one straight down Morkel’s throat at long on.
Chawla then removed cautious Sehwag in the same over by castling the former India opener with a googly.
Narine too got into the act soon as he had Akshar Patel stumped by a country mile and then castled Mitchell Johnson in the same over.
Balaji followed soon as he was adjudged LBW in the same over.
In the end, Rishi Dhawan’s hits Kings XI managed to huff and puff their way to 132-9.
KKR off to a poor start
Kolkata have not been getting good starts in the IPL. No wonder Gautam Gambhir decided to come in at No.3 and let Manish Pandey open the innings.
But the plan backfired.
Pandey was foxed by an indipper and was caught playing down the wrong line and was back in the hut as early as the 3rd over.
Gambhir followed him soon as he was caught by Akshar Patel off the same bowler for one.
And when L Balaji removed Kallis for 9, KKR were reeling at 19-3.
KKR continue to lose wickets at regular intervals
Chris Lynn and Robin Uthappa provided a glimmer of hope with a 31 runs stand before Lynn was castled by Patel for 13.
Bailey found his mark to run out Uthappa for 19, before which Rishi Dhawan had dangerous Yusuf Pathan LBW for 3.
KKR never recovered from there and in the end it was a tame surrender.