IPL 2017: Gujarat Lions (GL) thrash Kings XI Punjab (KXIP) by 6 wickets in crucial IPL 10 clash
IPL 2017: Gujarat Lions (GL) thrash Kings XI Punjab (KXIP) by 6 wickets in crucial IPL 10 clash
Dwayne Smith cracked a quickfire 74 as Gujarat Lions (GL) made the road tougher for the Kings XI Punjab (KXIP) towards the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2017 playoffs, on Sunday night. Hashim Amla smacked 60-ball 104 but his effort went in vain, as KXIP are now left with a mountainous task in their remaining four matches of the first round in the ongoing IPL 10. Chasing a daunting target of 190 to win, Gujarat scored 191 for 4 in 19.4 overs and registered their only fourth win in 12 matches so far. On their part, KXIP made several mistakes and ended up paying a big price for it. FULL CRICKET SCORECARD: Kings XI Punjab (KXIP) vs Gujarat Lions (GL), IPL 10 match 47
Gujarat Lions made a strong start in their chase of 190. Dwayne Smith and Ishan Kishan added 91 runs for the first wicket to set up a solid foundation for a big chase, but they had their share of luck as well. Kings XI Punjab made several mistakes in the field, and also lost their composure as the pressure mounted on them. In return, Gujarat Lions made full use of the opportunities that came their way. FULL CRICKET UPDATES: Kings XI Punjab (KXIP) vs Gujarat Lions (GL), IPL 10 match 47
Smith scored 74 off 39 balls studded with 8 fours and 4 sixes. He was dropped twice, and the explosive batsman played one of his characteristic innings replete with powerful strokes around the park. On his part, Kishan was happy playing the second fiddle as he scored 29 off 24 balls with the help of 3 fours.
Kishan set the tone early on when he smacked a four off the second ball of the chase, and Smith joined in by hitting two fours off Mohit Sharma in the second over. Both the batsmen got boundaries at will, and excellent rotation of strike helped them in getting 58 runs off the first six overs.
There was an incident in the fifth over which suggested KXIP had lost their composure, which perhaps set the tone in favour of the Lions. Sandeep asked for a change in the bowling side, and he came around the wicket to Kishan. Smith, at non-striker’s, did not move to the other side but stood wide of the bowler. The umpire allotted Gujarat Lions a free-hit immediately and signalled it a no-ball, which did not go down well with the KXIP bowler and the captain.
On their part, the first opportunity for Kings XI Punjab came in the sixth over when Smith mishit one off Mohit, and David Miller (substitute) came under the ball. It would have been a regulation catch but much to the frustration of him and his team, the ball popped out of his hands. Smith, at that point, was batting on 38.
Smith was given another lifeline when Gurkeerat Singh Mann spilled a tough chance in the deep when he failed to hold on to a catch while he put in a dive in front. Smith had just brought up his fifty at that junction.
KXIP finally had the first breakthrough in the 10th over when Kishan was caught by Miller at deep midwicket. However, in the same over, T Natarajan was hit for a six and a four by Smith and Raina respectively.
Raina got into the groove by hitting two consecutive fours off Varun Aaron in the 11th over, but Smith perished right after smacking a six off Maxwell. Following Smith’s dismissal, Raina teamed up with Karthik to take Gujarat Lions ahead with the required rate not asking more than around 9 an over.
Karthik remained content rotating the strike, whereas Raina looked for quick runs. Natarajan and Mohit were hit for a four and a six respectively. Another chance came KXIP’s way in the 17th over, but Gurkeerat spilled his second catch of the evening to leave his side in despair.
However, Gurkeerat was given a third chance when Raina mishit one off Sandeep in the 18th over, but this time the fielder did not make any mistake. Sandeep struck once again in the same over, bouncing out Aaron Finch for a mere 2 bringing KXIP right back into the contest with the visiting side needing 24 more runs from 12 balls.
Karthik survived a close run-out appeal on the final ball of the same over, and on the second ball of the next from Varun Aaron, he got a top edge that flew for a six. The bowler presented Karthik with width on the next ball, and the batsman cracked a four to take Gujarat Lions closer.
Gujarat batsmen collected 3 runs off the first ball of the final over, and a wide from Natarajan made it easier for the visiting side. Karthik, who remained unbeaten on 35 off 23 balls, hit the winning runs.
Earlier in the contest, Amla became only the third batsman in history of IPL after Chris Gayle (2011) and Virat Kohli (2014) to score more than one century in a season. Amla scored a quickfire 104 and Shaun Marsh chipped in with 58, but their efforts were perhaps not enough.
Brief scores:
Kings XI Punjab 189 for 3 in 20 overs (Hashim Amla 104, Shaun Marsh 58; Pradeep Sangwan 1 for 28) lost to Gujarat Lions 192 for 4 in 19.4 overs (Dwayne Smith 74, Suresh Raina 39, Dinesh Karthik 35*; Sandeep Sharma 2 for 29) by 6 wickets.
Man of the Match: Dwayne Smith