IPL 2017: Hashim Amla, bowlers guide Kings XI Punjab to comfortable win over Gujarat Lions
Apr 23, 2017 21:25 IST
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Hashim Amla’s third IPL fifty and Axar Patel’s all-round show guided Kings XI Punjab to a 26-run win over Gujarat Lions at the Saurashtra Cricket Association Stadium, Rajkot. (BCCI )
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Gujarat Lions captain Suresh Raina won the toss and opted to field. (BCCI )
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The visitors got off to a bad start as seamer Nathu Singh, playing his first game of the season, got rid of Manan Vohra in the second over. (BCCI )
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Hashim Amla and Shaun Marsh steadied KXIP’s ship with a 70-run partnership and some excellent strokeplay. (BCCI )
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Andrew Tye, Gujarat Lions’ highest wicket-taker in the tournament, then removed the dangerous looking Marsh for 30(24). (BCCI )
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Amla continued to pile on the runs and brought up his third half-century. (BCCI )
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GL bowlers then got the better of Hashim Amla and Glenn Maxwell in a span of six balls and the momentum seemed to be shifting towards the hosts. (BCCI )
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But Axar Patel rose to the occasion as his quickfire 34 propelled KXIP to 188/7. (BCCI )
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In reply, Gujarat Lions got off to a worst possible start as Sandeep Sharma trapped their in-form opener Brendon McCullum in the very first over. (BCCI )
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Skipper Suresh Raina came to the rescue and continued from where he left against Kolkata Knight Riders. (BCCI )
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But as soon as he got out, GL failed to regain momentum. Axar, who removed Raina in the ninth over, got Dwayne Smith in his third over. (BCCI )
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Dinesh Karthik tried his best to get Gujarat Lions back on track (with his 13th fifty) but ran out of partners. (BCCI )
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KXIP eventually sealed the game by 26 runs, their third win in 2017 Indian Premier League. (BCCI )
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Glenn Maxwell’s men have now risen to fourth position while GL are last with five losses in seven games. (BCCI )
