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IPL PHOTOS: Punjab win battle of batting heavyweights
A superb all-round performance, first from David Miller and then Sandeep Sharma, helped Kings XI Punjab thrash Royal Challengers Bangalore by 32 runs in Friday night's IPL match in Bangalore.
Put in to bat first, Kings XI got off to a flying start, and despite losing wickets at regular intervals later maintained momentum.
Miller provided the late flourish with blistering 29-ball 66, which took the score close the 200-run mark.
Then, defending the score of 199, Sandeep bowled brilliantly, as he dismissed Chris Gayle and Virat Kohli off consecutive balls.
He added the third in the form of Parthiv Patel, which broke the backbone of the chase.
In the end, RCB could only muster 166-9 from their 20 overs.
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Kings XI openers off to a flier
Openers Virender Sehwag and Mandeep Singh gave Punjab a flying start.
Virender Sehwag looked in ominous form from the outset, slapping Mitchell Starc for a boundary off the first delivery.
A couple of balls later, he clipped Starc off his pads for a second boundary in the over.
Mandeep Singh too joined the party and square drove Starc through point.
The duo soon had a 50-run stand for the opening wicket off 32 balls.
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RCB fight back with quick strikes
Harshal Patel provided Bangalore the opening breakthrough as he had Mandeep Singh walking back to the pavilion for 21.
Mandeep, looking to be aggressive against Patel, was caught at mid-on by Albie Morkel.
Yuzvendra Chahal then induced a false stroke from Virender Sehwag. The former India opener tried to chip one down the track, only to hit it straight down Virat Kohli’s throat at long-on.
Glen Maxwell threatened for a brief stay, but was dismissed by Chahal while playing one shot too many.
And when Albie Morkel dismissed George Bailey for 1, it looked like RCB were clawing their way back into the contest.
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'Killer' Miller punishes RCB bowlers
David Miller, known as ‘Killer Miller’ these days, took upon the mantle from there on and played a whirlwind innings.
Varun Aaron was the first to be at the receiving end as the South African hit three boundaries off the bowler.
Starc repeated the feat, this time off Starc, who was surprisingly off colour today.
But it was Harshal Patel who bore the brunt of his onslaught; the batsman smoked two massive sixes – one which went out of the park – and a boundary, which brought his half-century.
The sole consolation for Patel was that he dismissed Miller in the same over, but, by then, the damage had been done.
Some late flourish saw Punjab come touching distance of the 200-run mark.
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Sandeep rocks RCB early
Sandeep Sharma, who has been impressive throughout the IPL, was on his mark again.
He struck in his second over, sending the big-hitting Chirs Gayle back after he edged one to Wriddhiman Saha, behind the stumps.
Virat Kohli came and went out off the next ball, adjudged caught off his pads by Saha.
Replays showed that the ball may have hit the ground, but the third umpire thought otherwise.
Sandeep had his third scalp in the form of Parthiv Patel, who hit one straight to Mandeep Singh.
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De Villiers 50 delay the inevitable
Sachin Rana was comprehensively castled by Akshar Patel, while Yuvraj Singh was again undone by debutant spinner Shivam Sharma.
Albie Morkel tried to be aggressive, but that was also his undoing as he holed out to Bailey at short third man.
AB de Villers decided to use the long handle in order to counter-punch Punjab. He first hit Glen Maxwell for a massive six.
Shivam was just celebrating Morkel’s dismissal that De Villiers came down heavy with a six.
Consecutive sixes off Laxmipathy Balaji brought up the South African’s half-century. But he was dismissed the next ball in search of some quick runs.
Bangalore's innings lost steam from there on and Punjab stayed on top with another win.