Kings XI Punjab are almost out of the play-off race after they were stunned by Rajasthan Royals at PCA Stadium on Thursday. Ajinkya Rahane and Sanju Samson once again played a great innings to help their team to register eight-wicket win at Mohali. Earlier it was some brilliant bowling of Kevon Cooper and Shane Watson which brought them back into the match as Kings XI Punjab were flying after the half-centuries of Shaun Marsh and Adam Gilchrist.

Here we bring to you the hits and flops from the match between Rajasthan Royals (RR) and Kings XI Punjab (KXIP).

HITS

Shaun Marsh: Marsh played a superb knock of 77 runs off 64 balls which was studded with six fours and two sixes. He was finding it hard to time the ball for boundaries in mid-overs which reduced the scoring rate up to a certain extent.

Kevon Cooper: Cooper bowled brilliantly and got rid of David Miller and Shaun Marsh in his final over. He ended up picking three wickets and gave away just 23 runs. He was adjudged man-of-the-match for his brilliant bowling.

Adam Gilchrist: Gilchrist looked in great touch with the bat as he blasted 48 runs off 32 balls that he faced. He was finding it hard to time the ball at times as ball was not coming on to bat that nicely.

Ajinkya Rahane: Rahane scored his third fifty in a row and took his side to a comfortable win. He scored 59 runs off 49 balls and smashed three fours and as much sixes. His consistency has given loads of strength to the top-order of Rajasthan Royals.

Sanju Samson: Sanju played another brilliant innings as he scored 47 runs off 33 balls. He kept his head cool in the crunch situation and freed his arm at the end of the innings. He smacked five fours and one six in his knock.

Shane Watson: Watson did justice to his brilliant all-round skills as he picked up the crucial wicket of David Hussey and gave away just 19 runs in his four overs. Later with the bat, he scored 31 runs off 25 balls that he faced.

FLOPS

David Hussey: Hussey once again put up a bad show as he got out after scoring just one run. He hasn’t been able to score a single half-century which shows that his form has not been good this season.

David Miller: Miller failed after his string of successes and he was dismissed by Kevon cooper on Thursday. He got out after scoring eight runs which is his lowest score in this IPL.

Mandeep Singh: Mandeep couldn’t make any contribution with the bat as he departed on the third ball of the match. He got caught and bowled by Ajit Chandila and made his way to dug-out for a duck.

James Faulkner: Faulkner once again turned out to be the most expensive bowler for RR. He has lost his charm since last few matches and has been going for plenty. He gave away 37 runs in his four overs and picked up the wicket of Manpreet Gony in the 20th over of Punjab’s innings.

Parwinder Awana: Awana got smacked for 39 runs in his four overs. He was bowling with good line and length but Rahane and Samson played some brilliant shots of which he had no answer.

By Amit Chopra
Indian Sports News Network