Kings XI Punjab (KXIP) clinch semi-final qualification in CLT20 2014 after hammering Northern Knights by 120 runs
KXIP clinch semi-final qualification in CLT20
By Freddie Wilde
Sep 26, 2014
A typically brilliant batting performance from the Kings XI Punjab (KXP) formed the foundations of clinical victory for the Indian Premier League (IPL) runners-up over New Zealand’s Northern Knights. The 120 run victory guarantees Kings XI Punjab’s qualification for the semi-final stage with one match still to play and leaves the Northern Knights requiring a victory from their final match against the Barbados Tridents to even stand a chance of progressing. But with the Knights’ Net Run Rate taking a considerable hit as a result of today’s thrashing they face an uphill battle to squeeze out of the group.
Having lost the toss and been put into bat by the Knights, the Kings XI opening pairing of Manan Zohra and Virender Sehwag wasted no time in launching into the Northern Knights bowlers; Vohra in particular was clinical off the back foot behind square where he slashed four boundaries.
The Knights’ opening bowling pairing of Trent Boult and Tim Southee has been their strongest suit in the Champions League so far, however their threat was well neutered by the unfazed aggression of Sehwag and Vohra who forced a bowling change by the fourth over. An over later the Kings XI brought up their fifty as Southee returned to the attack to little avail.
Consecutive sixes struck by Vohra off the bowling of Ish Sodhi in the ninth over could’ve signalled the beginning of an all-out assault, but looking to hit a third six in as many balls, Vohra held out out on the mid-wicket boundary.
KXIP are often inclined to fiddle around with their batting order, and things were no different today where they pushed Thisara Perera up to number three. They didn’t accelerate as a result of the move, but neither did they really decelerate with the run rate hovering in the high tens and low elevens throughout the innings.
Perera fell for 12-ball 16 which brought Maxwell to the crease with nine overs remaining – a little late for his full potential to be realised but still early enough for him to cause damage. Today was not to be his day however, and when he fell for a seven ball six there was a danger that the Kings XI innings could be derailed.
Such danger was short-lived however as David Miller consolidated before being joined by his partner in finishing crime, George Bailey. Their 20-ball 37 run partnership elevating KXIP above and beyond 200.
The target was always going to be a stiff challenge for the Northern Knights who although possessive of a strong batting line-up have relied on threatening performances in the field and with the ball for their victories – anything above 175, let alone 200, always seemed too many.
For a brief period such pessimism seemed misplaced as Kane Williamson and Anton Devcich launched into the Kings XI bowlers after Daniel Harris fell early. And at 58 for one off just 5.3 overs there seemed a real possibility that the Knights could threaten Kings XI’s total. However, the pressure of the chase, the scoreboard, Kings XI’s greatest weapon when bowling second, proved too much for the Northern Knights. Karanveer Singh, four for 15, and Akshar Patel, two for 16, were the headline grabbing bowlers instigating a collapse that saw the Knights lose 37 for nine to be bowled out for under 100 for the second time in as many innings.
For the Knights their second consecutive heavy defeat has all but ended their hopes of qualification for the semi-finals, with the Hobart Hurricanes and Cape Cobras on also on four points but with considerably better Net Run Rates than the Knights whose big losses have cost them dearly.
For Kings XI Punjab this was another routine victory. Pile on the runs, let the pressure do the rest. Questions still remain, as they did in the IPL, as to their ability batting second, but with that batting line-up, in the form its in, you’d back them to chase pretty much anything. Kings XI Punjab are fulfilling the expectations of pre-tournament favourites.
Brief scores:
Kings XI Punjab 214 for 5 (Virender Sehwag 52, Manan Vohra 65, David Miller 40* ; Scott Kuggeleijn 2 for 34, Ish Sodhi 2 for 37) beat Northern Knights 95 (Kane Williamson 20, Anton Devcich 28; Karanveer Singh 4 for 15, Akshar Patel 2 for 16) by 120 runs.
Complete coverage of Champions League T20 (CLT20) 2014 here
(Freddie Wilde is a freelance cricket writer. You can follow him @fwildecricket)