Glenn Maxwell fires Kings XI Punjab to 183 against Kolkata Knight Riders in IPL 2015, Match 44

Australian hard-hitter, Glenn Maxwell fired a healthy 43 off 22 deliveries, as 2014 runners-up, Kings XI Punjab (KXIP) finished on a healthy total of 183, against defending champions, Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), in Match 44 of the 2015 Indian Premier League (IPL), at the historic Eden Gardens in Kolkata on Saturday. KKR’s mystery off-spinner, Sunil Narine too claimed four-wickets for 19 in his four overs.

Earlier, KXIP skipper, George Bailey won the toss and elected to bat first as he made a couple of changes in his squad from the previous game, while KKR skipper, Gautam Gambhir moved in with an unchanged squad. Live Updates: Kolkata Knight Riders vs Kings XI Punjab, match 44 IPL 2015 here

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The openers, in the form of Murali Vijay and Manan Vohra were off to a good start, courtesy of three dropped catches. Vijay was dropped on one by Gambhir at extra cover, followed by another while he was on 21 by Brad Hogg at square leg, and the other by Umesh Yadav at short fine leg on 24.

Both the batsman, put up 45-run opening stand, before Vijay was dismissed for 28 by off-spinner, Sunil Narine, who bowled him up, in the sixth over. Out came Wriddhiman Saha and along with Vohra, put up 33 runs. Just when it seemed Vohra was going strong and is on course to his half-century, he was dismissed by the mystery-spinner, Narine again after being caught by him at the score of 39, as the team score read 78. Live Scorecard: Kolkata Knight Riders vs Kings XI Punjab, IPL 2015

Out came Maxwell, and along with Saha steered the innings further as they put up 65-runs before Maxwell, who was looking in good form, firing the ball all over the park, was dismissed in the 17th over for 43 off Narine again, after he went for a pull, but couldn’t connect well enough and was taken by Johan Botha at deep-midwicket.

This led to the arrival of David Miller, but soon it was Saha, who too made his way back for 33, after being bowled by Narine, who completed his four-wicket haul, at the end of 17th over. Out came Gurkeerat Singh, and along with Miller batted out the remaining overs as they contributed 20 more, before Gurkeerat fell for four in the final over to Andre Russell, who caught him of his own bowl.

It was Bailey, who came out and Miller finished the innings, who contributed 14, as the score read 183 for the loss of five, with KKR requiring 184 to win.

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Brief scores:

Kings XI Punjab 183 for 5 in 20 Overs (Manan Vohra 39, Glenn Maxwell 43; Sunil Narine 4 for 19) vs Kolkata Knight Riders.

(Ayush Gupta is a reporter at CricketCountry. A passionate supporter of Manchester United, he idolises Roger Federer and is also a World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) maniac. He can be followed on Twitter @Ayush24x7)