KKR vs KXIP: Chris Gayle-Mandeep Singh Duo Lead Kings XI Punjab to Top Four in IPL | Cricket news

SHARJAH: Chris Gayle channeled his inner anger as Mandeep Singh played through immense personal pain as they conjured the script for another chapter into a beautiful comeback story for Kings XI Punjab that beat Kolkata Knight Riders for eight wickets in the IPL on Monday.
Chasing a goal of 150, KXIP achieved the goal in 18.5 overs losing just two wickets as they have now won their fifth straight game to keep play-off hopes alive.
Gayle, who was overlooked and also ill during the first phase showed why he is the ‘Boss of the Universe’ during his 51-of-29 innings with five sixes. Mandeep, who is grieving the loss of his father, anchored the chase with an undefeated 66-on-56 balls as the duo added 100 runs in 10.1 overs.

Such was the Gayle-storm effect that it rubbed off on Mandeep (8×4, 2×6), who also completed a splendid sixth half century of IPL.
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The duo added 100 runs of 61 balls to bring them home with seven balls to spare.

KXIP’s dream streak of five wins on the rebound not only led them to the top four, but also opened the table before the penultimate round.
KKR fell to fifth place with 12 points from 12 matches as with a negative run rate of (-0.479) things have gotten tougher to get into the last four.

By opting for the field, Kings XI Punjab put on a disciplined bowling show, especially on the back end, to restrict Kolkata Knight Riders to a modest 149/9.
Mohammed shami (3/35) was the Kings XI Punjab bowlers’ choice, while Ravi Bishnoi (2/20) and Chris Jordan (2/25) claimed two wickets each to stop KKR, who were invited to bat First.
After a familiar nervous start, KKR picked up the momentum with starter Shubman Gill (57 of 45 balls) and patron Eoin Morgan (40) firing all cylinders inside the Powerplay.
But KXIP’s latest match hero Jordan set things back for his team by brilliantly mixing up his slow deliveries, while Bishnoi grabbed Morgan’s prized scalp after KKR reached 54/3 inside the Powerplay.
Morgan hit Murugan Ashwin on the deep square leg as Bishoi ended the 81-run free-flow association from 47 balls and KKR struggled to get going ever since.
Previously, KKR had another tough start and were in serious trouble with 10/3 within two overs after Shami’s exceptional first over.
But Morgan and Gill fought back wonderfully, getting the limits and the sixes. The duo made full use of the Powerplay restrictions and Shami gave up 21 runs since their third over.
Gill showed his pure class and timing, hitting Shami for six in a row.
This was after opener Nitish Rana came out for a golden duck and Shami fired Rahul Tripathi (7) and Dinesh Karthik (0) in the space of three balls.