IPL 2020 KKR vs KXIP: Fifth win on the bounce for Kings XI Punjab as Gayle, Mandeep half-centuries help defeat KKR by 8 wickets

IPL 2020 KKR vs KXIP: Fifth win on the bounce for Kings XI Punjab as Gayle, Mandeep half-centuries help defeat KKR by 8 wickets
Chris Gayle and Mandeep Singh for KXIP in IPL 2020

Kings XI Punjab (KXIP) have turned the tide in their favor with the fifth win in a row in IPL 2020. KXIP with the help of Chris Gayle and Mandeep Singh’s half-centuries chase down 150 runs target set by Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) without any difficulty.

KXIP won the toss and opted to bowl first. The decision was rewarded by KXIP bowlers who restricted KKR for 149 runs. Chasing 150 runs target skipper KL Rahul and Mandeep Singh opened the innings. Rahul continued his good performance and set the base for the team alongside Mandeep Singh who took his time and stayed on the pitch.

Rahul was dismissed in the 8th over after Varun Chakravarthy got him leg before wicket for 25 runs. Next stepped Chris Gayle who required just 25 balls to complete his second IPL fifty in the tournament. Mandeep Singh played a special inning and registered his sixth IPL fifty in IPL. He made 66 from 56 balls hitting 8 fours and two sixes.

Gayle was dismissed by Lockie Fergusson as KXIP were getting close to their target. He got out for 51 runs with the help of 5 sixes and two fours. However, KXIP reached the target in the 19th over with 7 balls to spare.

Also Read | IPL 2020: Sunrisers Hyderabad vs Delhi Capitals fantasy 11 predictions: Top Dream11 picks for SRH vs DC

Gill and Morgan anchor KKR to 149/9

Shubman Gill played a fine 57 run innings to rescue KKR after a poor start in the match. Nitish Rana the hero for KKR in the previous match was dismissed for a duck by Glenn Maxwell. Mohammad Shami made the damage even deeper with two wickets in the next over as Dinesh Karthik and Rahul Tripathi walked back to the pavilion.

KKR were 10/3 and in just two overs as Eoin Morgan walked in. Gill and Morgan made an 81 run partnership and rescued the team from a troubling situation. Morgan added 40 runs in the partnership in 25 balls with 5 fours and 2 sixes. Gill on the other hand was dismissed in the 19th over by Shami for 57 runs in 45 deliveries.

Lockie Ferguson added valuable 24 runs in 13 balls for KKR in the final two overs. No other batter could cross double digits as KKR reached 149/9 in 20 overs. Mohammad Shami took three wickets in the game and conceded 35 runs in four overs. Chris Jordan and Ravi Bishnoi impressed with their bowling after a superb display for KXIP. Bishnoi ended up with 4-1-20-2 while Jordan was with 4-0-25-2. Maxwell and M Ashwin took one wicket each while Arshdeep Singh was wicketless in two overs.

This win means KXIP grab fourth place in IPL 2020 points table for now in an interesting race to the playoffs. This is also KXIP’s 5th win in a row and now have 6 wins and 6 losses in IPL 2020. KKR are also in a similar position in the tournament 6 wins and 6 losses in 12 games but are below KXIP due to inferior net run-rate.  

Also Read | IPL 2020: Twitter reacts to Kings XI Punjab’s crucial win over Kolkata Knight Riders