Ngidi rattles Kings XI Punjab
Pacer finishes with figures of 4/ 10
Pune, May 20: Young paceman Lungi Ngidi took four wickets for just 10 runs but Karun Nair hit a timely half- century to help Kings XI Punjab recover from a top- order collapse and post 153 against Chennai Super Kings in an IPL mach, which they need to win by at least 53 runs to qualify for the Play- offs.
D e l h i Daredevils had done a favour to Punjab by knocking out Mumbai Indians with an 11- run win in the first match of the day as it kept Punjab in the hunt.
Punjab now need to restrict CSK to 100 runs to seal the last- available spot in the Play- offs and if they fail to win big, Rajasthan Royals will qualify. When Punjab batsmen needed to fire in unison, only Nair showed stomach for fight with his 26- ball knock, which was laced with three fours and five sixes.
It was South African paceman Ngidi ( 4/ 10) who triggered a top- order collapse as he swung the ball both ways to confound the Punjab batsmen. He first had dangerous Chris Gayle ( 0) caught behind and then bowled other opener K. L. Rahul with a peach of delivery that swung in and sent the stump kart- wheeling.
Deepak Chahar had Aaron Finch ( 4) caught by Raina as Punjab managed only 29 runs in the Powerplay overs. In his sensational three- over spell, Ngidi conceded just seven runs and scalped both the openers. David Miller ( 24) and Manish Tiwary ( 35) repaired the innings with a 60- run partnership.