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Pre Match Analysis

KXIP takes on Mumbai in crucial tie

PRETORIA, MAY 11: Kings XI Punjab takes on the Mumbai Indians in a critical match on Tuesday. With both teams fighting for a semi-final spot, a Mumbai win would further crowd the middle of the table. However, a win for KXIP will push them up to joint 3rd with the Deccan Chargers. One more thing that KXIP have to worry about, though, is their net run rate. After two big losses and some close wins, the run-rate has taken a beating and a big win is what will pick it up.

There are some more considerations for skipper Yuvraj Singh and coach Tom Moody, here, though. With Mahela Jayawardene tearing his hamstring in the last game, he will not be available for this game for sure. That means Luke Pommersbach makes his IPL appearance after 10 games. This could be a move that can certainly bolster the middle-order for KXIP, but Mahela was the form batsman for KXIP and he will be missed.

The good news, here, though, is that Brett Lee is back and looking in great touch. And he will need to perform to the best of his ability if KXIP is to counter and contain Sachin Tendulkar, Sanath Jayasuriya and most importantly, the in-form JP Duminy. Mumbai has had a rough time of late and have only 4 wins in their 10 games. Harbhajan Singh is in form and handling him is where Mahela’s presence in the middle order would have been a big boost.

Pretoria was a tough venue last time for KXIP when they lost to Chennai Super Kings. The last time KXIP faced MI, though, was a low-scoring affair where KXIP successfully defended a small total of 119. With little change foreseen to the bowling attack, there is now stability and variety available for KXIP. Yusuf Abdulla is likely once again miss out with Brett Lee’s return, but there is the spin of Piyush Chawla and Ramesh Powar to fall back on.

Tom Moody was relieved after the last win but he is still keen on seeing KXIP perform to their fullest. And captain Yuvraj Singh agrees with this. “We have won five out of our 10 games so far and we are playing only to half our potential. We can do better,” said Yuvraj Singh on the eve of the match.

What to do after winning the toss will depend on the pitch and conditions. But KXIP will want a big win nonetheless to ensure they get their run rate going in the correct direction. The tournament has now reached a stage where every aspect of a result and other matches’ results matter as well.

Post Match Analysis

Mumbai Indians register convincing win over KXIP

PRETORIA, MAY 12: On a good batting wicket, Kings XI Punjab put up a poor batting display to concede an easy win to the Mumbai Indians. Batting first after winning the toss, KXIP managed only 119 thanks largely to a sparkling 43 by Sunny Sohal up the order. Thereafter, though, there was little of note except Karan Goel’s rearguard 20 not out. Extras with 18 was the third-highest scorer for KXIP.

KXIP will be ruing a great chance to move up the points table. And they were well in with a chance. After racing to 50 off just 32 balls, there was every indication that this would be a high-scoring game as well like the earlier one in the day. The introduction of Harbhajan Singh, though, changed all that. With six left-handers in the top order (Sohal and Wilkin Mota being the only exceptions), it was a tailor-made situation for an off-spinner.

And Harbhajan Singh’s figures of 1/9 off 4 overs show what an impact he had on the game. Seeing his initial success, Sachin Tendulkar also pressed JP Duminy and Ajinkya Rahane – both part time bowlers – and together, they conceded only 20 runs for 3 wickets in 5 overs. KXIP fell from 2/50 to 7/89 in the space of 10 overs.

Interestingly, KXIP’s score of 119 was exactly how much they scored the last time these two teams faced off in Durban at the start of the tournament. On that day, KXIP was up to defending the small total, but on Tuesday, there was no such respite.

Despite a good start by Brett Lee and Irfan Pathan, all MI were going to need was one good over to get their chase underway. And it was the fifth over bowled by S Sreesanth that did the trick. At 14/1 after four overs, KXIP was doing well. But Dwayne Bravo sized up Sreesanth and took his over for 21 runs. And then the floodgates opened. There was a moment of cheer for KXIP when Ajinkya Rahane fell to Piyush Chawla, but thereafter, Sachin Tendulkar (41 not out) and Dwayne Bravo (70 not out) ensured that MI didn’t miss this small total. The early scalp of Sanath Jayasuriya (4) – who fell to some hostile quick bowling from Lee – came to nought as the middle order held together for MI.

While the loss is the biggest obvious downside for KXIP, their net run rate has fallen further. They will need to ensure that they will all their remaining matches to avoid the net run rate becoming an issue. Additionally, they will also need to hope for some other results going their way – notably, KKR winning against Rajasthan Royals and Deccan Chargers. “The net run rate is something we can’t do much about. It’s out of our hands,” said coach Tom Moody about the possible situation.

Moody, though, wasn’t happy with the batting performance. “We made a mess of our batting after Sunny Sohal set a good platform for us. But he got out unfortunately and we weren’t in the contest after the score we put up,” said Moody. With three tough and crucial games remaining, Moody is focusing on these. “We have to sit back and reflect on our loss today and learn from it. We won’t wallow in it for too long but we need to know where we went wrong,” he said.

KXIP next takes on the current leaders Delhi Daredevils on Friday in Bloemfontein.