Report: Match 8 – PWI v KXIP
First Published : 09 Apr 2012, 00:25
Last Modified : 13 Apr 2012, 20:00
Pune, April 8: Pune Warriors India cruised to another impressive win in DLF IPL 2012 as they beat Kings XI Punjab by 22 runs here at the Subrata Roy Sahara Stadium. It was an all-round show by PWI, who after putting up a score of 166, managed to restrict their opponents to 144, thereby becoming only the second team in the tournament to remain unbeaten.
Earlier, upon winning the toss and opting to bat first, the hosts had an ordinary start as they were reduced to 32 for two in just 4.5 overs by KXIP. Sourav Ganguly scored a streaky 18-ball 20 before he was dismissed by Dimitri Mascarenhas, while Jesse Ryder (8) was run out by a brilliant piece of fielding from Praveen Kumar.
An 81-run stand between Marlon Samuels and Robin Uthappa, nevertheless, took the Warriors past the 100-run mark and set them up for a 150-plus score. Medium-pacer Harmeet Singh then looked to bring Punjab back in the contest as he removed Samuels (46 off 39), Callum Ferguson (3) and Uthappa (40 off 33) in successive overs. However, with Harmeet being disallowed to complete the 19th over for bowling consecutive beamers, Steve Smith (25 off 12) pounded replacement Bipul Sharma for three sixes in four deliveries to help the home side finish at a competitive 166 for six in 20 overs.
KXIP had a woeful start to their innings as they lost both their openers – Paul Valthaty (1) and Adam Gilchrist (6) - to run outs before the completion of the fourth over. Some tight bowling by PWI further put the visitors under pressure. KXIP managed just 45 runs for the loss of two wickets in the first nine overs.
With the asking rate mounting, Mandeep Singh (24) and Abhishek Nayar (24) fell trying to play big shots. Rahul Sharma then accounted for David Hussey (18) and Piyush Chawla (16) with his legbreaks to reduce KXIP to 99 for six in 15.1 overs.
Bipul Sharma scored an unbeaten 35 (18 balls) batting at No. 8, but with Pune making early inroads into the visitors’ batting line-up, the hosts restricted KXIP to 144 for eight in 20 overs.
With today’s victory, the Pune Warriors India and the Rajasthan Royals are the only two teams to have won both their games in the competition.
Man-of-the-match: Marlon Samuels for his all-round performance that included 46 off 39 balls (4x4, 2x6) and bowling figures of 4-0-23-1
