Kings XI Punjab started their campaign with a loss in Super Over and have since lost five of six matches. It turned out to be an exciting game again in Abu Dhabi on Saturday, but the end result proved to be the same for KXIP against Kolkata Knight Riders, the former champions who are in good shape.
READ ALSO | FULL COVERAGE IPL 2020
Still, going into a final over Sunil Narine with 14 to win, the match tilted slightly towards the chasing team. The hopes of the last KXIP were not lost even with seven to remove the last ball.
Glenn Maxwell placed Narine on additional cover, but it was a heartbreak. The ball fell one inch away and the fourth meant a two-run victory for KKR.
It was pacemaker Prasidh Krishna who pulled things out for KKR with a 19th over which cost six runs and brought in two wickets, importantly, the big scalp of KXIP captain KL Rahul played with his last ball.
READ ALSO | IPL 2020: Dinesh Karthik, what did you have for breakfast? – Former India batsman tweeted after KKR captain’s fifties against Kings XI Punjab
KKR captain Dinesh Karthik scored his first fifty of the tournament, 58 of 29 balls, and closed an important 82-run partnership with young starter Shubman Gill, who hit 47 balls 57 to extend his good run and secure a 164 fight. / 6. KXIP ended 162/5.
KL Rahul’s 74 of 58 balls were in vain. “I have no answers for the persecution. We just have to keep getting better in the next seven games. Our bowlers adapted well and did well. ”
Rahul made a good escape early after Andre Russell failed to make a running catch midway through the second lap over Krishna. KXIP management and KXIP coach Anil Kumble must reconsider their hitting tactics after a poor decision to send Prabhsimran Singh ahead of Maxwell and Mandeep Singh.
On a slow wicket, Rahul and Mayank Agarwal (56 of 39 balls) appeared to be in control during their 115-run starting position. It was again his Karnataka teammate Krishna who broke through, eliminating Agarwal at 15 to turn things around.
Karthik said: “The way Rahul and Mayank were hitting, we needed something really special to come back. Prasidh is special. He cast very well on the second spell and Sunil Narine always stands up at crucial moments. ”
.
