From Eden Gardens in Kolkata, it is Kolkata Knight Riders hosting Kings XI Punjab in this Match 18 of Vivo IPL 2018. See how Rahul and Gayle took KXIP at the top of the table in a rain-affected match.
Preview
It is a doubleheader on this Saturday where the top half of the table play first. KKR placed 2nd won their last match against Rajasthan Royals. Whereas because of Gayle, KXIP are 4th on the table as they won against SRH in the last match.
Punjab Won The Toss
KXIP won the toss and opted to field. The Knight Riders go unchanged from their last match. KXIP make one change as Ankit Rajpoot came in for Mohit Sharma.
KKR’s Batting
The home team made a poor start as Sunil Narine went back pretty early. It was Robin Uthappa who has been in really good form who joined Chris Lynn in the middle. The pair looked set for a big partnership and Lynn who has been suffering from a bicep injury, looked set to score some runs today. Robin with his amazing touch scored 34 off 23 balls. Rana who has been in great form was run out for just 3. It was the captain who joined Lynn as the team set for a big total.
Chris Lynn scored a well played 74 off just 41 balls, hitting 6 fours and 4 sixes. KKR couldn’t quite get the ending they would have liked but they still put up a decent total on board as they ended their innings on 191 at the loss of 7 wickets.
Punjab’s Bowling
Mujeeb Ur Rahman – the teenage sensation from Afghanistan got Sunil Narine back to the pavilion. The bowlers looked out of sorts after that as they bowled short and on the pads. Barinder Sran who had a great game against SRH in Mohali was taken to the cleaners by Lynn and Uthappa as the got 23 off one over. To the relief of KXIP fans as Ashwin got the important wicket of Robin Uthappa. Lynn kept scoring from the other end. The bowlers pulled things back a little in the latter half of the innings. Andrew Tye being their star bowler ended up with 2-30 in his 4 overs.
KXIP’s Chase
The Kings XI Punjab start off brilliantly as both KL Rahul and The Universal Boss, Chris Gayle were really hard on the bowlers. After a long break due to rain, KXIP had to get just 29 more in 28 balls as the target was set at 125 in 13 overs.
The rain made it really easy for the team from Punjab as they won by 9 wickets. KL Rahul made 60 in just 27 balls hitting 9 fours and 2 sixes. Chris Gayle who ended the match with a six scored 62 in 38 balls. Chris Gayle for scoring the maximum runs is the new holder of the Orange Cap.
Knight Riders’ Bowling
KKR start off really poorly as both the batsmen hit the bowlers out of the park. Before the rain stoppage, KXIP were 96 without losing any wickets in just 8 overs. The poor bowling performance meant KKR had very less runs to defend after the play resumed. It was a tough ask for the KXIP bowlers from there on as the ended up on the losing side for the third time this season. Sunil Narine is the new holder of the Purple Cap.
Man Of The Match
It was KL Rahul who scored 60 in just 27 balls with a strike rate of over 222 who won the man of the match. Click here to read how Watson’s amazing century took CSK to a home win in Pune.
