Kings XI Punjab (KXIP) will take on Northern Knights in the 13th match of the Champions League T20 (CLT20) 2014 at Mohali. While KXIP have been in cracking form so far in the tournament, the Knights suffered a rare bad day in the office against Hobart Hurricanes when they were shot out for just 92. Shiamak Unwalla looks at the key battles that could unfold at Mohali.
Kane Williamson vs Akshar Patel: Kane Williamson has been in stupendous form in CLT20 2014, scoring 223 runs at an average of 55.75 with two half-centuries and a ton. He is undoubtedly the main batsman for the Knights, and has been instrumental in getting them this far. Akshar Patel has been frugal as usual for KXIP, and will be keen on continuing his good run. If he successfully ties don Williamson, the Knights will be at an immediate disadvantage.
Glenn Maxwell vs Ish Sodhi: Maxwell showed in IPL 2014 that when he was on song, it did not matter to him whether it was an off-spinner or a pace bowler; he was going to go hard at the ball and invariably hit it out of the park. However, he seemed to falter a bit against leg-spin, falling to one or another on multiple occasions. Ish Sodhi has bowled well for the Knights, and could hold the psychological advantage over Maxwell being a leg-spinner.
Scott Styris vs Thisara Perera: The battle of the all-rounders; Styris showed that despite his ripe age, he is still a force to contend with. In a match where only one other Northern Knights batsman even got to double figures, Styris scored a quick 27-ball 37 that helped his side to get within striking distance of triple figures. His bowling is dependable as ever. Perera, meanwhile, has been a boost in the arm for KXIP. He has already played a match-winning innings, and has bowled a couple of good spells as well.
Virender Sehwag and Manan Vohra vs Trent Boult and Tim Southee: Sehwag was out for a golden duck in KXIP’s first match, but followed it up with a typically flamboyant innings of 31 against Barbados Tridents. Manan Vohra got off to starts in both matches without really kicking on. Both batsmen will look to set a firm base for the power hitters in the middle order to capitalise. On the other hand, Boult and Southee have been absolutely outstanding for Northern Knights. Barring the last game in which Boult took a pounding in his final over, the pair has set up the Knights with their probing, potent spells at the start of the innings. As perhaps the best new-ball attack in the tournament, they will pose a huge threat to the attractive opening combination of Vohra and Sehwag.
Complete coverage of Champions League T20 (CLT20) 2014 here
(Shiamak Unwalla is a reporter with CricketCountry. He is a self-confessed Sci-Fi geek and Cricket fanatic who likes to pass his free time by reading books, watching TV shows, and eating food; sometimes all at the same time. You can follow him on Twitter at @ShiamakUnwalla)
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