Two of the most exciting sides in this IPL threw punch after punch at each other, but in the end Punjab Kings backed off slightly against Kolkata Knight Riders in their IPL match on Friday.
Kings played the game Knight Riders did two nights ago in an attempt to provide for the inevitable dew and chasing advantage.
It was a shame that just like for Knight Riders, it didn’t work out for Kings. They were bowled out for 137 with 10 balls to spare, a total Knight Riders chased down in 14.3 overs despite being 51 for 4.
Right from their team selection, Knight Riders kept picking the aggressive option. They replaced a wicketkeeper-batter with a specialist bowler, went for wickets every time Kings threatened to run away, bowled out their four main bowlers in the first 17 to try to bowl Kings out, and then, at 51 for 4, a circumspect Andre Russell saw them through with 70 off 31.
Of the eight sixes that he hit, Russell said he nailed only one; that’s how difficult it was going to be to defend if Kings had put on a par score. And with the build-up of their side, they were not going to go for a par score.
Mayank Agarwal got himself out playing across the line in the first over. Bhanuka Rajapaksa responded with some sweet aerial clips on the leg side in a nine-ball 31, but the suffering bowler Shivam Mavi got him with an aggressive short ball. (cricinfo)