IPL 8 KXIP vs RR: Rajasthan Royals seal a comfortable win over Kings XI Punjab
Pune: Rajasthan Royals put up a solid show in field and with ball to seal a comfortable 26-run win over home team Kings XI Punjab on Friday in Pune. After being put in to bat, Rajasthan Royals managed to score 162 after James Faulkner’s 46 resurrected the innings following a flurry of wickets in the initial stage of the innings.
On a new home ground, Kings XI Punjab were off to a bright start against Steve Smith-led Rajasthan Royals on a wicket full of grass.
Rajasthan Royals received a big blow even before the ball was bowled as Shane Watson failed to get fit and captain the side due to bruised hip. While RR missed his presence in the playing XI when they batted, but they eventually managed to beat Kings XI Punjab.
Here is how the action unfolded.
The last over from Morris was merely a formality as KXIP needed 32 runs to win the game. Morris gave away 5 runs and Rajasthan Royals sealed 26-run win.
Bailey and Axar Patel added 30 runs following Miller's dismissal. But Southee removed Patel to give RR their seventh wicket. While KXIP hoped for a stunning turnaround with Baily in the middle. But some tremendous teamwork from Tim Southee and Karun Nair near the boundary rope ended Bailey's innings.
#CatchOfTheTournament #Southee #Nair #KXIPvRR https://t.co/mUoDC8C3CN
— Rahul Patel (@Dgodrahool) April 10, 2015David Miller hit a huge six to make the homecrowd happy but he top-edged one off Dhawal Kulkarni's bowling and Faulkner did not do any mistake to catch it at the third-man boundary.
Kings XI Punjab received a major blow when Vijay misjudged a single and got himself run-out. He was the only batsman who looked confident and faced no trouble.
Glenn Maxwell joined Vijay in the middle but his stay was cut short after Tim Southee took a stunning catch off Faulkner's bowling to give Rajasthan Royals their third breakthrough.
Saha and Murali Vijay then added some quick runs before Saha was brilliant run-out Samson. The right-hander tried to steal a single but the confusion with Vijay and a direct-hit from Samson ended Saha's stay in the middle.
Bull’s eye! Does Sanju Samson’s direct hit to send Saha back make him one of the nominees for #hotstarOfTheMatch? https://t.co/rvsPq9mAwb
— hotstar (@hotstartweets) April 10, 2015Requiring 163 runs to win at their new home ground, Kings XI Punjab lost Sehwag on the first ball of the chase. The Indian right-hander tried to hot Southee through the off-side but could only manage to edge one to Sanju Samson.
(Photo: BCCI)
Following Hooda's dismissal, it was James Faulkner show as the right-hander smashed Mitchell Johnson for 20 runs in an over and helped Royals cross the 150-run mark.
#hotstar @JamesFaulkner44 turns the heat on @MitchJohnson398 and takes him for plenty to spoil his figures. #KXIPvRR https://t.co/YzpoMRaHV8
— hotstar (@hotstartweets) April 10, 2015Faulkner got out in the final over after making 46 off 33 runs. Thanks to Faulkner's blitz, Rajasthan Royals managed to overcome the early setbacks and score 162 runs.
Hooda and Faulkner then added some quick runs to keep Kings XI Punjab under some pressure. However, just when these two looked good, Hooda got out off Anureet Singh's bowling after scoring 30 runs in 15 balls.
Mitchell Johnson then struck twice in one over. First, he dismissed the dangerous Steve Smith, who tried to hit out his Australian teammate. Karanveer Singh who was fielding at the third-man held his composure and took a neat catch. Binny then edged one to Saha.
Axar Patel who bowled the last over before the end of powerplay, gave away 15 runs with Smith hitting him for two boundaries and Karun Nair dispatching one for six. But on the last ball of the sixth over, he ended Karun Nair's stay in the middle.
Another wicket for us! @akshar2026 strikes. RR 35/3 after 6 overs. #KXIP #LivePunjabiPlayPunjabi
— Kings XI Punjab (@lionsdenkxip) April 10, 2015Sandeep Sharma joined the party in the next over when he trapped Sanju Samson plumb before wickets and pushed Rajasthan Royals on the backfoot. The ball came back in sharply and Samson was found wanting.
Sanju wrapped on the leg and that's the second wicket down for the #Royals! Umpire took his time but eventually gave it Out! #RRvsKXIP
— Rajasthan Royals (@rajasthanroyals) April 10, 2015Anureet SIngh provided Kings XI Punjab their first breakthrough when he dismissed Ajinkya Rahane in the second over for zero. Rahane tried to hit Anureet over the in-field but only managed to give an easy catch to Akshar Patel at mid-off.
(Photo: BCCI)
Before the first ball was bowled, a minute's silence was observed for the legendary Richie Benaud who passed away earlier on Friday in Sydney.
(Photo: BCCI)
Check: The words of Richie Benaud, the 'voice of cricket'
Here are the playing XIs.
KXIP XI: V Sehwag, M Vijay, G Maxwell, D Miller, G Bailey, W Saha, M Johnson, A Patel, Anureet Singh, Sandeep Sharma, K Singh
— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) April 10, 2015RR XI: A Rahane, S Samson, S Smith, K Nair, D Hooda, S Binny, J Faulkner, C Morris, T Southee, D Kulkarni, P Tambe
— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) April 10, 2015Kings XI Punjab would look to adapt quickly to their new 'home ground' when they lock horns with former champions Rajasthan Royals in their campaign opener in the eight edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL).
The Royals, who have three 2015 World Cup winners in Shane Watson, Steven Smith and Jame Faulkner, would look to Chris Morris, their costliest buy at Rs 1.4 crore, for a positive start. Morris was bought for his all-round skills and will be expected to partner Faulkner in that department.
