Photographs: BCCI
Glenn Maxwell once again proved to be unstoppable as he played an astonishing innings of 90 from 38 balls to power Kings XI Punjab to a convincing 44-run victory over Chennai Super Kings in the 29th match of the Indian Premier League in Cuttack, on Tuesday.
- Scorecard
Chennai elected to bowl after winning the toss and they were made to rue the decision as Maxwell, the most prolific scorer this season, continued with his show of incredible batting prowess as he butchered the Chennai bowlers to submission to almost single-handedly take Punjab to 231 for four in their 20 overs, the highest total in this year's IPL.
Chennai were never in the hunt with the bat and finished on 187 for six in their 20 overs courtesy of some late hitting from Faf du Plessis, who hit a quickfire 52 from 25 balls.
Sehwag gives Punjab good start
Image: Virender SehwagPhotographs: BCCI
Opener Virender Sehwag started off with a flourish with a boundary off the first ball of the innings, hitting Ben Hilfenhaus through the covers.
He then hit three fours off Ishwar Pandey in second over to give Punjab a flying start.
Mandeep Singh was unable to get going and was caught at thirdman for three off Mohit Sharma in the fifth over, before Sehwag inside edged it back on to his stumps to be bowled for 30 from 23 balls.
Maxwell's attack flattens Chennai
Image: Glenn MaxwellPhotographs: BCCI
Maxwell took time to get going before he took the attack to Ravichandran Ashwin in his very first over, hitting him for back to back sixes over the fine leg and midwicket region.
He inflicted more punishment on Ashwin in his next over. The Australian lofted the first ball over long-on for a six before he slammed the next along the ground through midwicket for a four.
Maxwell then used the reverse sweep to good effect for a boundary over short thirdman before he smacked the fifth ball over deep midwicket for another six to race to his half-century from jsut 22 balls.
Ashwin came under severe punishment at the hands of Maxwell as he gave away 38 runs in two overs.
Maxwell, Miller boost Punjab in middle overs
Image: Glenn Maxwell (left) with David MillerPhotographs: BCCI
Maxwell stitched 135-runs with David Miller (47 off 32 balls) for the third wicket from just 10.4 overs after the duo came together in the sixth over at 38 for two.
The duo added a phenomenal 88 runs in the five overs after the halfway mark, scoring 17, 14, 21, 18 and 14 in each over with the 100-run partnership between Maxwell and Miller coming up in just 8.4 overs.
Maxwell was out in the 90s for the third time when he holed out to deep midwicket after a magical innings of 90 from 38 balls.
Bailey's fireworks lifts Punjab to a huge 231
Image: George BaileyPhotographs: BCCI
Captain George Bailey went beserk in the final few overs, hitting a flurry of boundaries.
Punjab added an incredible 162 runs in the second half of their innings with Bailey chipping in with a cameo of 13-ball 40 not out towards the end to take his side to a mammoth 231 for four in their 20 overs, the fifth highest total in IPL history.
Sandeep strikes early for Punjab
Image: Kings XI Punjab players celebrate the wicket of Dwayne SmithPhotographs: BCCI
Young pacer Sandeep Sharma bowled beautifully with the new ball, getting it to move around early on. He struck in the first over of the innings with the key wicket of Dwayne Smith.
Smith was caught at short thirdman by Mitchell Johnson for four as Chennai lost an early wicket.
Maxwell dismisses Raina
Image: Glenn Maxwell (left) celebrates the wicket of Suresh Raina with team mate Wriddhiman SahaPhotographs: BCCI
Maxwell followed up his heroics with the bat by chipping in with the ball as he claimed the wicket of Suresh Raina.
Raina smashed 35 from 27 balls before Miller took a superb catch at long-off diving forward.
Ravindra Jadeja was promoted to No. 4 but he failed to fire with the bat and was bowled by Rishi Dhawan.
Faf du Plessis brought some cheer to the Chennai dressing room, hitting 52 from 25 balls, but the visitors finished on 187 for six in their 20 overs to lose by 44 runs.
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