Low scores to beat Rajasthan Royals

Chasing down a 125-run target is usually an easy task for T20 team. But that wasn’t the script on Sunday for the Rajasthan Royals as they huffed and puffed to a 6-wicket win over Kings XI Punjab, with four balls to spare.

Needing five runs from the final six deliveries, Sanju Samson showed a lot of pluck, taking two off the first delivery, before bringing up the winning runs with a four. But it didn’t look difficult when they began the chase.

Two wickets for Sreesanth. 

Manan Vohra was wicket no.3, after being run out courtesy a direct hit from James Faulkner. David Hussey being David Hussey then got to work, by going after Chandila, stepping aside to lift the ball over long off for fence. 

The 35-year old made room, to cut, and glide the ball around for runs. But what the team needed was a big partnership, and that’s where the visitors struggled. While Hussey got busy, Gurkeerat Singh and R.Satish showed glimpses of a fight, but failed to hang around when it mattered the most.

SCORE DETAILS

Kings XI Punjab: 124/10 (18.5)

Highest Score
D Hussey-41(31 balls)
A Mahmood -23(20balls)
Highest Wickets
Sreesanth-2(20)
K Cooper-2(33)
J Faulkner-2(30)
S Trivedi-2(21)

Rajasthan Royals: 126/4 (19.2)

Highest Score
S Watson-31(19)
A Rahane* -34(42)
Highest Wickets
P Kumar-2(10)

PLAYER OF THE MATCH-J.FAULKNER

Kolkata Knight Riders win by Sunrisers

All-rounder Jacques Kallis hit top form and Eoin Morgan explode before a packed Eden Gardens as defensive champions Kolkata Knight Riders stormed to a 48-run win over Sunrisers Hyderabad on Sunday.

The burly South African struck a brisk 41 and took 3/13 in four overs as Hyderabad was restricted in their chase of 181. Along with Captain Gambhir second consecutive and record 18th IPL 50 and Morgan maddening 21-ball 47, Kallis had earlier helped the home team post a massive 180.

The veteran all-rounder then removed Hyderabad openers in following overs to scupper the chase after Parthiv Patel and Cameron had added 57 at the top of the order.

SCORE DETAILS

Kolkata Knight Riders- 180/4 (20)

Highest Score
G Gambhir - 53(45 balls)
E Morgan -47(27 balls)
J Kallis-41 (27 balls)
Best Wickets
K Sharma-1(13)
A Reddy-1(15)

Sunrisers Hyderabad- 132/7 (20)

Highest Score
T Perera -36(25)
C White -34(31balls)
P Patel -27(31)
Best Wickets
J Kallis-3(13 Runs)

Player of the Match- G GAMBHIR

Low scores hard to beat Hyderabad

Much was made of Virender Sehwag’s return to competitive cricket. More so as his side Delhi Daredevils had begun their IPL campaign with three straight defeats. But Sehwag’s inclusion for the match against Sunrisers Hyderabad made no change in Delhi’s fortunes, as they plummeted to their fourth consecutive loss.

Steyn gun

When Delhi batted, Steyn began with a wicket-maiden - David Warner losing it in the first over – and Ishant Sharma removed skipper Jayawardene and Sehwag off consecutive deliveries for an identical 12. Steyn, who bowled 12 dot balls in his quota, Ishant and Thisara Perera kept it tight and only through cameos by wicketkeeper-batsman Kehdar Jadhav and Irfan Pathan did the home team reach 14 runs past 100.

SCORE DETAILS

Delhi Daredevils- 114/8 (20)
HIGHEST SCORE
K Jadhav (†)-30(20 BALLS)
I Pathan -23(30BALLS)
BEST BOWLINGS
D Steyn-2(11Runs)
I Sharma-2(35 Runs)
T Perera-2(31Runs)

Sunrisers Hyderabad: 115/7 (19.2)

HIGHEST SCORE
K Sangakkara (C)-28(28balls)
P Patel (†) 19(19balls)
BEST BOWLINGS
M Morkel-2(27 Runs)
S Nadeem-2(17Runs)

Player of the match- A Mishra

KKR Chris Gayle got trapped in a storm

Royal Challengers Bangalore proved once again they were masters of the chase at home, especially when Chris Gayle fires. But as much as Gayle’s 50-ball 85 and nine massive sixes sent the mercury soaring in the hosts eight-wicket win over defending champs Kolkata Knight Riders, heat as intense was produced by the rival captains.

Virat Kohli and Gautam Gambhir, bound to Delhi by birth and upstanding representatives of its nature, were headed for a collision before another Delhi; Rajat Bhatia pulled the younger man away.

SCORE DETAILS

KOLKATA KNIGHT RIDERS-154/8
HIGHEST SCORE
G Gambhir (C)-59(46)
Y Pathan -27(17)
HIGHEST WICKETS
R Singh-3 Wickets 27 runs

ROYAL CHELLENGERS BANGALORE-158/2

HIGHEST SCORE
C Gayle -85(50)
V Kohli (C)-35(27)

PLAYE OF THE MATCH- C Gayle

CSK openers Stunning Win KXIP by 10 wickets

In a match that was elevated to a higher plane of existence by the presence of Sir Ravindra Jadeja, Chennai Super Kings his much-obliged side, out-classed Kings XI Punjab by ten wickets.

The great man, however, besides exerting himself upon the contest merely by dint of personality, bore little on the result.

The stars responsible for Chennai’s first win of the season, instead, at Mohali on Wednesday, were Dirk Nannes and openers Michael Hussey and Murali Vijay, who worked alongside a hospitable host that refused to hang on to their chances defending a modest total.

SCORE DETAILS

KINGS XI PUNJAB-138/10

HIGHEST SCORE
D Hussey -41(36 Balls)
G.Singh-31(26 Balls)
HIGHEST WICKETS
D.Bravo-3 wickets 27 runs

CHENNAI SUPER KINGS-139/0
M.Hussey-86(56Balls)
M.Vijay-50(54 Balls)
 
PLAYER OF THE MATCH- M.Hussey