KXIP juggernaut rolls on
Kings XI Punjab found a series of unlikely heroes to help them scramble home to an unexpectedly dramatic four- wicket victory over Delhi Daredevils at the Kotla here on Monday night, the result cementing the Mohali team’s position at the top of the IPL- 7 league table.
Wooden- spooners Delhi put up an unexpectedly fierce fight in the field after their batsmen had posted a par score of 164/ 7. South African legspinner Imran Tahir took three crucial wickets to put the brakes on what seemed to be another Kings XI cruise to victory.
In the end, Punjab needed all- rounders Akshar Patel ( 42 not out, 35b, 5x4, 1x6) and Rishi Dhawan ( 8 not out, 5b, 1x4) to see them past the target with two balls to spare after Tahir ( 3/ 22) had taken out the big- hitting Manan Vohra ( 42, 19b, 4x4, 3x6), Glenn Maxwell ( 14) and skipper George Bailey ( 6).
Earlier, the Daredevils rode on an entertaining half- century by Dinesh Karthick to post a 164/ 7 in front of a packed stadium.
Joining skipper Kevin Pietersen ( 49) in the middle after Murali Vijay ( 5) went back early, Karthik slammed 69 off 44 balls with seven boundaries and three sixes to help the hosts post a respectable total. Pietersen was also in fine form. The duo of Pietersen and Karthik tackled the Punjab pacers comfortably but the introduction Patel by Bailey brought down the run rate.
The left- arm spinner soon got rid of Pietersen, the former England bats- man being denied a welldeserved half- century by just one run.
Pietersen’s departure saw the arrival of J. P. Duminy. But the usually reliable South African was unable to do too much, finding Maxwell on the long on boundary while trying to punch Hendricks out of the park. However, at the other end, Karthik continued to torment the Punjab bowlers with regular hits to the fence.
Punjab pacer Sandeep Shama brought his side back into the game, sending back Kedhar Jadhav and Mayank Agarwal.