Kings XI Punjab 138/8 (20/20 ov)
Kolkata Knight Riders 141/4 (17.1/20 ov)
Kolkata Knight Riders won by 6 wickets (with 17 balls remaining)
For quite some time now, Kings XI Punjab have been like a second-hand car with plenty of miles on the clock. You fix one mechanical issue and another cog in the wheel goes off.
Home fans at the Punjab Cricket Stadium, Mohali, were treated to an insipid batting display as the hosts lost to Kolkata Knight Riders by six wickets on Tuesday.
Punjab’s two misfiring stalwarts before the match were captain David Miller and Shaun Marsh. While Miller’s drought continued, Marsh fired up this time with an unbeaten knock of 56.
Unfortunately for the team, the rest of the batting around him collapsed.
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Barring opener Murali Vijay (26) and tail-ender Kyle Abott (12 not out), none of the batsmen made it to double figures, with most of the wickets falling to spin.
Marsh tried to make the most of the strike in between the procession of wickets with five boundaries and a six in his 41-ball stay, but that could only push Punjab to 138 for eight after being put in to bat by Kolkata.
That was never going to be enough though as the Kolkata batsmen chose to spend some time in the middle and easily chased down the target with 17 balls to spare.
When Suryakumar Yadav hit a straight drive at the start of the 18th over, the victory assured.
"It is disappointing," Miller told StarSports in the post-match interview as he attempted to put on a brave face.
“We are not far away from a win. I am confident we can turn it around. The middle order and myself are to blame, too. I am very happy to see Shaun get runs under his belt.”
Earlier, Kolkata openers Robin Uthappa (53) and Gautam Gambhir (34) knew the importance of starting strong, as has been the trend this season in the Indian Premier League.
The in-form pair did not have to do anything fancy, and Gambhir said he hoped that the team’s good starts would continue.
“Our opening partnership was important,” the captain said at the post-match presentation. “There is always room for improvement, but all of us want to continue the winning habit.”
Uthappa, with a lesser run tally than Gambhir and the orange-cap holder, chose the occasion to amass some quick runs. “You don’t try to fix something that ain’t broke,” said Uthappa, who was voted Man of the Match.
By the time the unheralded leg-spinner Pardeep Sahu accounted for both of their wickets, the damage was done with Kolkata 97 for two at the end of 11 overs.
The victory pushed Kolkata to the top while Punjab are rooted to the bottom of the table.
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