Kings XI register a rare win after rain

Bowlers shine as Punjab beat RCB by 22 runs

Rain has chased Royal Challengers Bangalore in this edition of the Indian Premier League. It once again played a part as the Bangalore side fell apart during a tense run chase, losing to Kings XI Punjab by 22 runs in a curtailed match at the PCA Stadium here on Wednesday.

The loss stationed RCB, who are in the race to make the play-offs, at fifth place while Kings XI ended their six-match winless streak on their home ground.

The persistent rain had delayed the match by well over two hours. The showers finally stopped at 8:45 pm, and thereafter it was a race against time for the groundstaff to dry the outfield, especially the large wet patch at the sweeper cover region. There were three pitch inspections at 9.30 pm, 10:05 pm and 10:25 pm before the officials decided to give their nod.

Spectators, who filled the stands to rafters, waited patiently and erupted in celebrations as the two captains finally walked out for the toss at 10:30 pm. It hardly mattered to them that the match was now reduced to 10-overs-a-side. It turned out to be the third rain-hampered match for Virat Kohli’s boys.

Kings XI got off to an explosive start with Wriddhiman Saha sending the visitotrs on a leather hunt. But RCB bowlers bowled brilliantly in the last three overs to stop Kings XI at 106/6. Harshal Patel, with impressive figures of 2-0-12-2 along with Yuzvendra Chahal and Mitchell Starc bowled tidily in that phase. With batting becoming difficult and the outfield slow, RCB found their best three -- Chris Gayle, AB de Villiers and Kohli -- back in the pavilion by the seventh over for 67 runs.

Kohli, who was beginning to cut loose, dragged a wide ball from Anureet Singh onto his stumps to spark a collapse. Gayle was undone by Sandeep Sharma when he attempted to pull his bouncer only to be caught behind.  The RCB hopes now rested on De Villiers. But the South African fell to Axar Patel while sweeping, the top edge going to the fine leg fielder. RCB needed 36 off 16 balls but lost wickets in heap to fall short.

For Kings XI, Saha’s explosive innings became the defining moment. He charged at Starc and S Aravind and the latter bled 20 runs. Saha, though, was removed by Daniel Wiese in the third over when his mistimed shot was caught at mid-on. In no time, Kings XI, as has been their story so far, were reduced to 54/3 in five overs with Harshal picking both Manan Vohra and out-of-form Glenn Maxwell in a span of two deliveries.

Captain George Bailey and Axar set out on the task to make the most of the remaining overs. But Chahal had Bailey’s leg stump jilted during a cross-batted attempt by the batsman. Despite losing wickets in heap, 100 runs came for Kings XI in nine overs. They bowled well to reward the crowd for their patient wait.

score board

KINGS XI PUNJAB: Wriddhiman Saha c Mandeep b Wiese 31 (12b, 5x4, 1x6), Manan Vohra c Mandeep b Patel 11 (6b, 1x6), Glenn Maxwell c de Villiers b Patel 10 (10b, 1x4), David Miller st Karthik b Chahal 14 (4b, 2x6), George Bailey b Chahal 13 (9b, 1x4), Axar Patel (not out) 20 (15b, 1x4, 1x6), Gurkeerat Singh c Karthik b Starc 2 (3b), Rishi Dhawan (not out) 1 (1b), Extras (LB-1, W-3), Total (for six wickets, 10 overs) 106    
 
Fall of wickets: 1-34 (Saha), 2-50 (Vohra), 3-54 (Maxwell), 4-71 (Miller), 5-99 (Bailey), 6-102 (Gurkeerat).

Bowling: Mitchell Starc 2-0-20-1, S Aravind 2-0-31-0, David Wiese 2-0-17-1, Harshal Patel 2-0-12-2, Yuzvendra Chahal 2-0-25-2.

ROYAL CHALLENGERS BANGALORE: Chris Gayle c Saha b Sandeep 17 (14b, 1x4, 1x6), Virat Kohli b Anureet 19 (9b, 2x4, 1x6), AB de Villiers c Hendricks b Patel 10 (9b, 1x4), Mandeep Singh c Miller b Patel 20 (14b, 2x4), Dinesh Karthik c Miller b Hendricks 2(4b), Sarfaraz Khan c Hendricks b Anureet Singh 4(6b), David Wiese (not out) 4 (5b), Harshal Patel (not out) 0 (0b), Extras: (LB-5, W-2, NB-1) 8, Total (for 6 wkts; 10 overs) 84   

Fall of wickets: 1-33 (Kohli), 2-44 (Gayle), 3-67 (de Villiers), 4-74 (Karthik), 5-77 (Mandeep ), 6-83 (Sarfraz).

Bowling: Sandeep Sharma 2-0-20-1, Beuran Hendricks 2-0-9-1, Anureet Singh 2-0-21-2, Rishi Dhawan 2-0-18-0, Axar Patel 2-0-11-2.