Punjab chase 206 to tame Hyderabad

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The Kings XI Punjab batsmen scored at a breathtaking pace to get to their 100 in just 7.3 overs. After the early loss of Virender Sehwag, Manan Vohra and Wriddhiman Saha all but took the match away from the Sunrisers Hyderabad.

The duo packed in a punch that Hyderabad were unable to fully recover from, and after that belligerent partnership was broken, Glenn Maxwell and George Bailey finished off the match which saw a mind-numbing 24 sixes. Kings XI proved that they were not just a two-man show as barring Virender Sehwag, every single batsman crossed 20 to pull off a tremendous run chase.

Bhuvneshwar Kumar came on to bowl the first over innings, and Virender Sehwag started off in trademark fashion by hitting the ball down the ground for a boundary. Kumar got his revenge off the very next delivery when Sehwag tried to hit another boundary only to get caught by Kumar off his own bowling.

Wriddhiman Saha came out to join Manan Vohra in the middle. If KXIP supporters thought this would affect their chances to win, Saha and Vohra put their fears to rest with a belligerent 91-run stand in just seven overs.

Saha and Vohra took the attack to the bowlers with some very brave batting. Even Bhuvneshwar was not spared, as he was taken for 15 runs off his second over.

Karn Sharma got rid of Wriddhiman Saha off the very first delivery of the eighth over. Saha advanced down the track, but missed the ball entirely and was stumped in the process. He was out for a very well-made 54 off just 26 balls.

That brought in Glenn Maxwell. He faced a dot ball to start with, but followed it up with a six over midwicket. He followed it up with an even bigger six. After being beaten, he went on to hit another six off the last ball to make it 18 runs off the over.

Dale Steyn bowled the ninth over in a bid to stem the flow of runs, but even he was not spared by the very impressive Manan Vohra. Steyn tried a slow short ball, but Vohra picked him early and swatted him over midwicket for six.

Bhuvneshwar Kumar came in to bowl the next over, and immediately ran Vohra out. Unfortunately for Vohra, a full blooded drive from Maxwell brushed Kumar’s hand and went on to hit the stumps. Vohra was run out for a very attractive 47 off just 20 balls.

Amit Mishra had reasons to celebrate as Maxwell got a top edge which was taken by Dale Steyn. However, his joy turned to ashes in his mouth, as the umpire checked for the no ball. Mishra had overstepped, and Maxwell survived to fight another day. Karn Sharma bowled the next over, and was hit for the customary two sixes off his over by Maxwell. After another tight over from Steyn, Mishra finally struck. Maxwell danced down the track and tried to hit him over long off, but didn’t get it anywhere near the middle. Once again, Dale Steyn took the catch to dismiss Maxwell for a well-made 43 off just 22 balls.