END ROYAL RUN

Ahmedabad, April 21: In one of the most pulsating ‘Super Over’ contests, a first in this edition of Indian Premier League, Kings XI Punjab edged out Rajasthan Royals to hand them their first defeat after five straight wins.

After both teams were locked at 191, KXIP scored 15 as Shaun Marsh belted Chris Morris for three consecutive boundaries. In reply, Mitchell Johnson yorked Shane Watson with a brilliant delivery first up while Wriddhiman Saha kept his cool to run James Faulkner out as KXIP broke their three match losing streak in one of the most thrilling contests.

Earlier, needing 5 runs off the final delivery off James Faulkner, Axar Patel sliced it towards backward point for a boundary as it entered the ‘Super Over’ with both teams tied on 191.

Needing 14 runs off the final over, Mitchell Johnson and Patel getting two runs each off four of the earlier five deliveries.

Miller was back in his element as his scintillating 54 off 30 balls with five sixes was one of the primary reasons for KXIP chasing down a more than decent score after Marsh’s 40-ball-65 set the platform.

Chasing a command- ing target of 192, KXIP got off to a worst possible start as stand-in captain Virender Sehwag (2) failed to beat Steve Smith’s direct throw from wide mid-off.

Murali Vijay (21) hit a glorious straight six off Stuart Binny and another one off Praveen Tambe before was unfortunately run-out backing up too far when Marsh’s shot was collected by leggie Rahul Tewatia, who broke the stumps.

Glenn Maxwell (1) dreadful IPL continued as he miscued a Tewatia delivery that had more bounce and Smith stationed at deep mid-wicket made no mistake.

While Marsh was in silken touch, he was not getting the required support from the other end.

He found the gaps with ease and in Tewatia found a bowler he can hit at will as he completed his half-century off 32 balls with a down the ground six.

When Miller joined Marsh, there was a semblance of some partnership building as the 100 came in 13 overs with the South African hitting James Faulkner for a six over deep midwicket. The 58-run stand ended when Marsh trying to hit Tambe for six ended up being caught by Rahane in the deep as KXIP were 117 for four.

— PTI