Punjab put on a kingly show

Sandeep Sharma scalped three crucial wickets as Kings XI Punjab produced a disciplined bowling display to compensate for their batting failure and notch up a comfortable 23-run victory over Kolkata Knight Riders in an IPL match here on Saturday.

Asked to take first strike, Punjab were strangled by spinners Sunil Narine (3/24) and Piyush Chawla (3/19), who outfoxed the Kings XI batsmen to restrict them to 131 for nine in their stipulated 20 overs.

However, table-toppers Punjab came up with a superb bowling effort to dismiss Kolkata for 109 with 10 balls to spare at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium and continue their good run in the tournament.

Pacer Sandeep Sharma (3/21) and spinner Akshar Patel (2/16), Mitchel Johnson (2/22), Lakshmipathy Balaji (1/21) and Rishi Dhawan (1/24) — all got wickets as Punjab registered their fourth win as many matches.

Suryakumar Yadav was the top-scorer for Kolkata as he blasted three fours and one six in his 17-ball 34-run innings but it was not enough in the end.

Defending 133, Punjab pacers Sharma, Johnson and Balaji rocked the top order to reduce Kolkata to 31-3 in 8 overs.

While Sandeep drew first blood, trapping Manish Pandey infront of wicket in his second over, the Punjab pacer came back to dismiss skipper Gautam Gambhir in his third over.

Balaji also joined the party, picking up Jacques Kallis on his first delivery in the sixth over.

Chris Lynn (13) and Robin Uthappa (19) tried to steady the ship but Patel and Dhawan kept a tight line as Kolkata huffed and puffed to 50 in 11 overs.

The mounting pressure took a toll on Lynn, whose attempt for a big shot saw him losing his stumps off a quick and flat delivery by Patel in the 12th over.

Yusuf Pathan also continued to struggle and was sent back by Dhawan when he tried to play across the line and was adjudged LBW, while a direct throw from Bailey ended Uthappa’s stay. Chawla (0) and Narine (6) too failed.

Young Yadav tried to lead a fightback but Sandeep came back to dismiss the batsman on the third ball of his last over to end any hope of a turnaround.

“The bowlers were outstanding. Probably left 20 or 30 short on a tough wickets but we knew we had a chance if we took early wickets,” Bailey said after the match.

“It’s hard to weigh it, but we probably got it wrong. We left it too much to do for the tail enders.”