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Last Updated Friday November 27 2020 10:51 PM IST

Kings XI Punjab back to winning ways

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Hashim Amla Hashim Amla made a fine 65 for Kings XI Punjab. PTI

Rajkot: Kings XI Punjab put up a strong all-round show to end their four-match losing streak with a 26-run victory over Gujarat Lions in an Indian Premier League (IPL) contest at the Saurashtra Cricket Association Stadium here on Sunday.

Opening batsman Hashim Amla played a crucial knock of 65 as Punjab posted a challenging total of 188/7 in 20 overs. In reply, Gujarat could muster only 162/7, driven largely by Dinesh Karthik (58 not out) as the eighth-placed team suffered its fifth loss in seven matches.

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Medium-pacer Sandeep Sharma (2/40) and the spin pair of K.C. Cariappa (2/24) and Axar Patel (2/36) impressed for the visitors, who now have six points and are fourth on the points table.

Punjab had to be thankful to Amla (65; 40b, 9x4, 2x6), who shared a 70-run stand for the second wicket with Shaun Marsh (30 off 24 balls).

The partnership came after Manan Vohra (2) edged a Nathu Singh delivery to wicketkeeper Karthik in the second over. Both Amla and Marsh played aggressively to put the pressure on Gujarat Lions.

  • Kings down Lions

    Kings XI Punjab players celebrate the fall of a Gujarat Lions wicket during their IPL game in Rajkot on Sunday. Kings won by 26 runs. IANS

    Kings down Lions
  • Kings down Lions

    Gujarat Lions' Dinesh Karthik plays a pull shot against Kings XI Punjab in Rajkot on Sunday. PTI

    Kings down Lions
  • Kings down Lions

    Kings XI Punjab's Axar Patel plays a big shot. PTI

    Kings down Lions
  • Kings down Lions

    Kings XI Punjab's Hashim Amla in action. PTI

    Kings down Lions
  • Kings down Lions

    Gujarat Lions captain Suresh Raina, left, congratulates Shubham Agarwal on dismissing Kings XI Punjab's Hashim Amla. PTI

    Kings down Lions
  • Kings down Lions

    Kings XI Punjab's Shaun Marsh plays a shot. PTI

    Kings down Lions

While Amla utilized his strong off-side stroke-making to good effect, Marsh decided to take more risk, hitting over the infield. By the end of the Powerplay overs, they reached 50/1, with Amla leading the charge.

The partnership was broken in the 10th over when a slow delivery from medium-pacer Andrew Tye saw Marsh mistime and giving an easy catch to Suresh Raina at midwicket. Punjab had reached 81/2 in 9.2 overs by then.

The same over saw Amla complete his fifty off 30 deliveries and the stage was set for Punjab's power hitters. Amla was joined by Glenn Maxwell and the pair went on the offensive from the word go.

Maxwell took only 18 deliveries to score 31 before being trapped in front of the wicket by left-arm spinner Ravindra Jadeja in the 14th over. Amla fell an over before him, driving one straight back at leg-spinner Shubham agarwal.

However, the fireworks from Punjab didn't stop as Axar smashed a quickfire 34 off 17 deliveries. He hot three fours and two sixes.

Punjab then got about their job of defending the total in style, removing openers Brendon McCullum (6) and Aaron Finch (13) with the batsmen falling to medium-pacers Sandeep Sharma and Mohit Sharma respectively.

Dinesh Karthik Dinesh Karthik, right, waged a lone battle for Gujarat Lions. PTI

Suresh Raina (32) and Karthik showed some resilience, but the former was caught at deep midwicket by Maxwell off Axar, as the hosts lost were reduced to 70/3 in nine overs.

Later, leg-spinner Cariappa stole the show with two quick wickets. First, he caught Ravindra Jadeja (9) off his own bowling and then got rid of Akshdeep Nath (0). In between, Dwayne Smith (4) became Axar's second wicket and following Akshdeep's dismissal, Gujarat were looking down the barrel at 102/6, with 87 required of 6.5 overs.

However, Karthik, got an able partner in Andrew Tye to give some hopes to the hosts.

Tye played a useful cameo of 22 from 12 deliveries before Sandeep bowled him to further dent the chase of Gujarat. Punjab eventually registered a comfortable victory.

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