Kings XI Punjab are surviving in the league on borrowed time. One false move from their side could mean curtains for the team’s campaign.
In the end the Kings again looked good to survive, if only for another day, thanks to some good clean power hitting by KXIP batters followed by their pacers utilising the conditions well in their push for the play-offs berth. Where DD bowlers failed, KXIP pacers succeeded. Led by Sandeep Sharma’s twin strikes of consecutive balls in the fourth over, KXIP had DD on the mat in no time.
With the tournament reaching its fag end, the DD batting woes are still not sorted. Unmukt Chand is having a forgetful season and Parveen’s swinging fourth ball of the third over managed to sneak past his defense.
Then it was the turn of Sandeep and he first had pinch hitter Irfan Pathan swinging wildly at an away-going delivery which was easily taken by Gilchrist behind the stumps. Off the very next ball, Sandeep knocked the wind out of DD’s sails by inducing a nick from David Warner off the last ball. Virender Shewag looked good for his 30 before his run was cut short by Parvinder Awana.
Vintage Gilly
Gilly along with Shaun Marsh sent the DD bowlers on a leather hunt. Seeing a green wicket Mahela Jayawardene had no qualms in bowling first after stacking up the side with as many as five pacers. But not only did the pace attack failed miserably with only Morne Morkel and Irfan Pathan returning respectable figures. Rest all bore the brunt of KXIP’s batters.
Gilly took liking to Ashish Nehra whom he hit for two fours and as many sixes spread across two overs. Later, the big hitting mantle, was taken by none other than KXIP’s man in-form David Miller. Miller was clinical and brutal in his assault. Taking on young medium pacer Siddhrath Kaul, Miller took 17 off the18th over with the help of two six, one of which went out of the stadium, and a four. His assault meant Kings finished with a more then competitive score of 171.
{{/usCountry}}Gilly took liking to Ashish Nehra whom he hit for two fours and as many sixes spread across two overs. Later, the big hitting mantle, was taken by none other than KXIP’s man in-form David Miller. Miller was clinical and brutal in his assault. Taking on young medium pacer Siddhrath Kaul, Miller took 17 off the18th over with the help of two six, one of which went out of the stadium, and a four. His assault meant Kings finished with a more then competitive score of 171.
{{/usCountry}}Brief scores: Kings XI Punjab: 171 for 4 in 20 overs (Shaun Marsh 45, David Miller 44 not out; Ashish Nehra 2/38, Morne Morkel 1/22). Delhi Daredevils: 100 for 4 in 15 overs (Mahela Jayawerdene 33 not out, Virender Sehwag 30; Sandeep Sharma 2/12).