Kings XI Punjab needed 14 in the last over. They huffed and puffed to bring it down to 5 from the last ball. Some shoddy fielding from the Rajasthan Royals fielders helped, especially by wicketkeeper Sanju Samson who missed a simple run-out chance to dismiss Axar Patel on the penultimate ball when he attempted an impossible second run. Samson failed to collect the ball and was left to rue his mistake as Patel sliced the final ball past point for four to take the game to a super over.
Super Australians to play the super over
It was the turn of Kings XI to set a target. Shaun Marsh had little time to rest after his comeback knock of 65. Virender Sehwag, the stand-in captain for George Bailey was not fancying his chances to get a few off the middle of his bat. David Miller was Marsh's partner.
The first one was in Miller's arc. But it was Miller who had to leave the park. He missed the full-toss from Chris Morris and was caught plumb in front of the stumps. Glenn Maxwell could only manage a single next ball and Marsh had to hit then. Three boundaries in a row. Kings XI set the Royals 16 to win, two more than what they had to get in the last over a few minutes earlier.
The Indians in both the camps remained mere cheerleaders. It was a duel between the Australians. Mitchell Johnson against Shane Watson and James Faulkner. Royals could not afford a dot ball. Watson tried to give some room and free his arms. Johnson executed his skills better and outsmarted his compatriot. Yorker at the base of the off stump. Dot ball plus wicket. Priceless.
Steven Smith hit a no-ball for four through third man. But two balls later, Faulkner ran out of his crease in search of a non-existent single and Saha was too quick for him from behind the stumps and a direct hit from the wicketkeeper brought an end to the game in an anticlimactic fashion. Kings XI ended their losing streak and became the first team to defeat the Royals this season.
Shaun Marsh won the battle of the Australians
Even when Kings XI Punjab met the Royals in their opening game of the season, it was billed as the battle of the Australians in bot the sides. That time it was won by the Royals contingent led by the guile and power of James Faulkner. But two weeks later, when the two teams locked horns for the second leg, it was another Australian, not part of that fixture, who decided the outcome. Shaun Marsh.
Marsh, the leading run-scorer for Kings XI in IPL matches with 2,038 runs, turned out to to be the the inspiration they needed as they almost hunted down a daunting target of 192 and took the game to the super over. He was playing his first game this season. Marsh was not getting much help from the other end till Miller joined him. The duo counterattacked the leg spinners Pravin Tame and Rahul Tewatia. But when Marsh mistimed one finally and holed out at long-on off Tambe, it seemed to have ended all hopes for Kings XI.
Miller enjoyed his comeback
David Miller was dropped for last game against Kolkata Knight Riders. The injury to captain George Bailey necessitated his comeback and he showed his brute strength once again. The spinners came under severe punishment from him. He took a liking to the midwicket area and was sending even balls which were cramping him for room over the boundary.
He hit five sixes in total and his 54 from 30 balls brought down the target to 25 from two overs from an improbable 72 from five overs. He was duly assisted by Saha with his cameo of 19 from 8.
'Maxi'mum disappointment
Maxwell said before this game that he understands the reasons for his under-performance in the IPL. The emotional high of the Australian World Cup win is what seem to be affecting him. But understanding your shortcomings is one thing, rectifying it is another. So far, he did not seem to have done anything to get his mind back to the present and to the cause of Kings XI.
Leg spinners are identified as the Achilles' heel for him. But he tried to go against the turn off Tewatia and skied one to Steven Smith who was running in from long-on. One from 6 balls, that is all he got. There is a genuine chance that he might be dropped for the next game if Bailey comes back. He cannot complain much if that happens. Maybe it is the kick on the backside that he needs now.
Shivam Sharma's unpleasant outing
It is tough being a spinner in T20 format. It is even tougher being a finger spinner in T20. Shivam Sharma, the 21-year offie had an unforgettable day in his first outing this year. He had no answer to the might of Watson and co. and his four overs went for 43 runs. It costed Kings XI dearly.
Kings XI are sitting fifth in the table and to get into the top four and stay there they would need to get onto a winning roll and this victory could not have come at a better stage for them.
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Super Australians to play the super over
It was the turn of Kings XI to set a target. Shaun Marsh had little time to rest after his comeback knock of 65. Virender Sehwag, the stand-in captain for George Bailey was not fancying his chances to get a few off the middle of his bat. David Miller was Marsh's partner.
The first one was in Miller's arc. But it was Miller who had to leave the park. He missed the full-toss from Chris Morris and was caught plumb in front of the stumps. Glenn Maxwell could only manage a single next ball and Marsh had to hit then. Three boundaries in a row. Kings XI set the Royals 16 to win, two more than what they had to get in the last over a few minutes earlier.
The Indians in both the camps remained mere cheerleaders. It was a duel between the Australians. Mitchell Johnson against Shane Watson and James Faulkner. Royals could not afford a dot ball. Watson tried to give some room and free his arms. Johnson executed his skills better and outsmarted his compatriot. Yorker at the base of the off stump. Dot ball plus wicket. Priceless.
Steven Smith hit a no-ball for four through third man. But two balls later, Faulkner ran out of his crease in search of a non-existent single and Saha was too quick for him from behind the stumps and a direct hit from the wicketkeeper brought an end to the game in an anticlimactic fashion. Kings XI ended their losing streak and became the first team to defeat the Royals this season.
Shaun Marsh won the battle of the Australians
Even when Kings XI Punjab met the Royals in their opening game of the season, it was billed as the battle of the Australians in bot the sides. That time it was won by the Royals contingent led by the guile and power of James Faulkner. But two weeks later, when the two teams locked horns for the second leg, it was another Australian, not part of that fixture, who decided the outcome. Shaun Marsh.
Marsh, the leading run-scorer for Kings XI in IPL matches with 2,038 runs, turned out to to be the the inspiration they needed as they almost hunted down a daunting target of 192 and took the game to the super over. He was playing his first game this season. Marsh was not getting much help from the other end till Miller joined him. The duo counterattacked the leg spinners Pravin Tame and Rahul Tewatia. But when Marsh mistimed one finally and holed out at long-on off Tambe, it seemed to have ended all hopes for Kings XI.
Miller enjoyed his comeback
David Miller was dropped for last game against Kolkata Knight Riders. The injury to captain George Bailey necessitated his comeback and he showed his brute strength once again. The spinners came under severe punishment from him. He took a liking to the midwicket area and was sending even balls which were cramping him for room over the boundary.
He hit five sixes in total and his 54 from 30 balls brought down the target to 25 from two overs from an improbable 72 from five overs. He was duly assisted by Saha with his cameo of 19 from 8.
'Maxi'mum disappointment
Maxwell said before this game that he understands the reasons for his under-performance in the IPL. The emotional high of the Australian World Cup win is what seem to be affecting him. But understanding your shortcomings is one thing, rectifying it is another. So far, he did not seem to have done anything to get his mind back to the present and to the cause of Kings XI.
Leg spinners are identified as the Achilles' heel for him. But he tried to go against the turn off Tewatia and skied one to Steven Smith who was running in from long-on. One from 6 balls, that is all he got. There is a genuine chance that he might be dropped for the next game if Bailey comes back. He cannot complain much if that happens. Maybe it is the kick on the backside that he needs now.
Shivam Sharma's unpleasant outing
It is tough being a spinner in T20 format. It is even tougher being a finger spinner in T20. Shivam Sharma, the 21-year offie had an unforgettable day in his first outing this year. He had no answer to the might of Watson and co. and his four overs went for 43 runs. It costed Kings XI dearly.
Kings XI are sitting fifth in the table and to get into the top four and stay there they would need to get onto a winning roll and this victory could not have come at a better stage for them.