Kings XI Punjab (KXIP) spiced up the points table of the Indian Premier League with a last ball thrilling win over the low lying Deccan Chargers (DC). KXIP who are now at the fifth position made sure that they keep the race for qualification to the play-offs open and with their four wickets victory over DC it has now even more unpredictable as to who would qualify for the next stage.
Chasing a target of 190, it required some lusty in the end by the KXIP to pick up the win.
Here are the performances that mattered in the match and decided the course of the match:
Kings XI Punjab:
Hits:
David Hussey: Hussey the stand in skipper of the KXIP led his team from the front and played a very good knock down the order to help his team pick up the victory against the Chargers. He was at his aggressive best and scored 65 runs of just 35 deliveries which included four fours and five sixes.
Gurkeerat Mann: He could not have chosen a better day to prove his mettle. Even if Hussey scored a quick fire 65 they would not have won had it not been for this young lad. He kept his cool under pressure and it was his cameo of 29 off just 12 deliveries including four fours and a six that helped the KXIP clinch the thriller.
Flops:
Shaun Marsh: He has been going through a lean phase in the tournament and even yesterday he could not do much. It would have been much easier for KXIP had Marsh fired but he failed again and could score only 11 runs.
Deccan Chargers:
Shikhar Dhawan: He is superb form and is making continuous stride towards making the Orange Cap his own. He has played extra-ordinarily throughout the tournament and even yesterday led the batting charge from the front. He scored 7 off just 50 deliveries including five fours and four sixes. He now has five fifties in this year’s IPL.
Cameron White: Along with Dhawan, White has been the other mainstay of their batting line-up. He excelled again yesterday and scored 67 of just 41 deliveries which included eight fours and a six.
Flops:
Kumar Sangakkara: The skipper failed again. He is going through a dismal run in the tournament and after 11 matches he only has scored 118 runs. He scored just one run yesterday.
By Samikshan Dutta Choudhury
Indian Sports News