IPL 11 KXIP vs KKR: Rahul, Gayle help Punjab seal 9 wicket win

Kolkata: It was nothing more than a one sided match after rain played spoilsport in the encounter between Kings XI Punjab (KXIP) and Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) as the former registered an emphatic 9-wicket win at the Eden Gardens here on Saturday.

Coming in to chase a huge target of 192 runs, KXIP got off to a fiery start with openers Chris Gayle and Lokesh Rahul adding 96 runs in 8.2 overs before the rain arrived. The fireworks did not stop even after the match was reduced to 13 overs and the new target was 125 runs.

Eventually, Rahul departed after played a fabulous 60-run knock off 27 balls with 9 fours and 2 sixes. Gayle, on the other hand, remained unbeaten and scored 62 runs off 38 balls with 5 fours and 6 sixes.

Mayank Agarwal faced only two deliveries and scored 2 runs to end the match with 11 balls to spare.

It was a nightmare for the bowlers as the batsmen were looking in amazing touch. Shivam Mavi conceded 29 runs in 3 overs for no wickets, while Andre Russell went for 31 runs in 1.5 overs, Sunil Narine conceded 23 runs in 3 overs for a wicket, Piyush Chawla gave away 24 runs in 2 overs and Kuldeep Yadav was hit for 13 runs in one over.

Also Read: IPL 2018 KKR vs KXIP: Lynn, Karthik take Kolkata to 191/7

Lokesh Rahul was named man of the match for his flawless inning which was filled with some mesmerising hitting.

Earlier, a fantastic 74-run knock by Chris Lynn and slog-over smartness of captain Dinesh Karthik helped KKR post a commendable total of 191/7 against KXIP.

Despite the early departure of Sunil Narine (1 off 4), Lynn didn’t lose any confidence and played a magnificent knock of 74 runs off only 41 deliveries with 6 fours and 4 sixes.

Robin Uthappa was also looking in great touch during his 34-run knock with came off only 23 balls with 5 fours and a six. Nitish Rana, however, failed today and went back after adding only 3 runs off 5 balls.

Dinesh Karthik played a sensible yet blistering inning of 43 runs off only 28 balls and laced his knock with 6 mind-boggling fours.

Andre Russell failed today and returned after adding 10 runs off 7 balls with 2 fours, while Under-19 sensation Shubman Gill remained unbeaten on 14 off 8 balls with 2 fours. Tom Curran added one run off 3 balls while Piyush Chawla scored 2 off 2.

It won’t be wrong to say that KXIP bowlers did a great job in containing KKR below 200-run mark.

Andrew Tye was the best bowler for KXIP as he gave only 30 runs off his 4 overs and picked up 2 wickets. Baarinder Sarn also managed two scalps but went for a whopping 50 runs in 4 overs. Mujeeb Ur Rahman and skipper R Ashwin got one wicket each for 32 and 33 runs, respectively.

Ankit Rajpoot despite bowling well remained wicket-less in his four and conceded 32 runs.