A superb knock of 110 not out by Mahila Jayawardane saw Kings XI Punjab beat Kolkatta Knight Riders on Sunday. Jayawardane’s knock over-shadowed the knock of 88 runs scored by Chris Gayle earlier and beat the Kolkatta Knight Riders by 8 wickets. Kolkatta Knight Riders, won the toss and chose to bat first against Kings XI Punjab at the Eden Gardens Kolkatta on Sunday. They opened the innings with Saurav Ganguly and Chris Gayle who made mince-meat of the Kings XI Punjab bowling.
Kolkatta Knight Riders were 100 in nine overs and Gayle started hitting more fluently thereafter. Gayle was initially batting slowly but played wonderfully well after the ten over mark. Gayle had milked Bopara for 33 runs in an over which is by far the most runs scored in an over in the IPL. The opening partnership yielded 56 runs and it was then Ganguly got out c & b Bopara for 36.
Gayle reached his fifty off 30 balls only. Thereafter he slammed four consecutive sixes off Bopara and Gayle had reached the score of 62 runs. Chris Gayle then hit Theron to the long on boundry and was c Bopara for a well compiled 88. Manoj Tewari also made a quick-fire 35 runs and was caught by sub (Kaif) off the bowling of Pathan.
David Hussey (11) and Angelo Mathews (17) were at the crease when Kolkatta Knight Riders were 200 for 3 in the allotted 20 overs. They gave a target of 201 to KXI Punjab to win the match.
Kings XI Punjab opened their innings with Manvendra Bisla and Jayawardane. The first wicket partnership was broken at 51 runs when Bisla was bowled by Kartik for 18 runs. Sangakara then joined Jayawardane at the crease and they both being Sri Lankan team mates played in tandem.
It was in fact Jayawardane’s century which enabled King’s XI Punjab to overhaul the score of 200 for 3 posted by the Kolkatta Knight Riders. The contribution of Sangakara 38 runs was valuable and he was out caught Hussey b Bond. In came Yuvraj Singh and he also played a good knock of 33 off 16 balls.
Kings XI Punjab scored 105 for 1 in ten overs and were looking good to overhaul the score set by Kolkatta Knight Riders. It was in fact a resurrection of Kings XI Punjab who managed to win this match with the useful knock of 110 not out by Jayawardane who had scored three fours of the over of Ajit Agharkar and spared no other bowler. He got his century off 55 balls.
Kings XI Punjab beat Kolkatta Knight riders by eight wickets. Was it too little-too late for Kings XI Punjab?
The award for the maximum sixes went to Chris Gayle.
The Karbonn Kamaal Catch went to (sub) Mohd. Kaif.
The Man of the match was given to Jayawardane for his 110 not out.
Ravi Matah.