Kings XI Punjab wins another close contest

11 May, 2009 | KXIP NEWS SERVICE

KIMBERLEY, MAY 9: Needing to win to keep their semi-final hopes alive, KXIP pulled off another last over win over the Deccan Chargers to register their fifth win in 10 matches in this year’s IPL.

Electing to field first after winning the toss, KXIP got off to a steady start not allowing Adam Gilchrist and Herschelle Gibbs to run away with the match. Although Gilchrist had his moments, he fell to S Sreesanth when he was caught by Ramesh Powar. Gibbs was the next to fall to Piyush Chawla for 13 bringing the dangerous Rohit Sharma to the crease.

KXIP’s bowling was a much improved effort in the first 10 overs as they restricted Deccan to just 74. But the bigger impact was the four wickets they picked up including that of Rohit Sharma for just 9 off 15 balls. The return of Brett Lee was another boost for KXIP as he showed why is considered among the best in the world. Replacing Yusuf Abdulla, Lee opened the bowling and was hostile from the start. His 4 overs cost just 24 runs and he accounted for the wicket of Rohit Sharma in one particularly hostile over peppering him with bouncers. Sharma eventually fell to the slow bouncer caught well by Kumar Sangakkara behind the stumps.

Deccan Chargers were also boosted with the return of Andrew Symonds who immediately hit his straps scoring a potentially match-winning 60 off just 36 balls. His 4 sixes and two fours had KXIP bowlers in a fix and he was well supported first by T Suman (27) and then Venugopal Rao (32). After having Deccan 4/73 at the strategy break, KXIP had the upper hand, but Rao and Symonds put on a partnership of 95 in just 56 balls to take Deccan to a respectable 168/5.

In reply, KXIP got off to a rousing start thanks to some powerful hitting by Sunny Sohal (30 in 17 balls). Opening the batting with Simon Katich, Sohal took the lead as the two put on 41 for the first wicket to give the chase the ideal start. However, both fell in the space of two balls that pegged the chase back. Yuvraj Singh (18) joined Kumar Sangakkara (25) in the middle, and their 43-run partnership did propel KXIP to a position from where they could launch the final assault, but once again, KXIP lost two wickets in 3 balls and looked in trouble.

Cometh the hour, cometh the man! And Mahela Jayawardene has been the man doing it for KXIP in the last couple of games. And once again, he put his hand up to be counted. While he got some support from Irfan Pathan and Wilkin Mota at the other end, it was Mahela’s batting that saw KXIP closer to DC’s total.

Needing 42 to win off the last four overs, Mahela smashed two big sixes to take KXIP at the doorstep of victory. Unfortunately, he also injured himself going for a quick second and may have done some damage to his hamstring. “We don’t know yet how long it’s going to be. He may be out for two days or even a week,” said coach Tom Moody after the game.

Just when things had closed in around KXIP again, Brett Lee and Piyush Chawla came together and ensured there were no more hiccups. Needing 19 off the last two overs, Piyush smashed a four and ran smartly with Lee to bring the final over target to just 8. And then Lee took over hitting R P Singh for a massive six. A few scampered singles and KXIP had their fifth win.

“It was a close game again, and our bowling and fielding wasn’t the best. It was a tough outfield to field on, though with thick grass in patches, but we still have work to do,” said Moody thrilled to have won another close game. KXIP next plays on Tuesday in Pretoria and coach Moody was pleased with the upcoming two day break. “There are a lot of weary bodies and minds there and this break could not have come at a better time,” he said.