After launching their campaign on a winning note, IPL finalists Kings XI Punjab will look to dish out another dominating performance when they face the formidable Barbados Tridents in a Group B match of the Oppo Champions League twenty20 in Mohali on Saturday.
The Kings XI came into the tournament on the back of a successful IPL season and they continued with their aggressive brand of cricket, defeating Hobart Hurricanes by five wickets with more than two overs to spare on Thursday night.
It was once again a power-packed innings by Australia’s Glenn Maxwell, the third highest run scorer in IPL 7, which guided Kings XI home, while skipper George Bailey too chipped in with 27-ball 34 at the Punjab Cricket Association Stadium.
However, Bailey will be a little worried about their top order which contributed just 51 with Virender Sehwag and David Miller returning to the pavilion without opening their accounts.
Barbados Tridents, on the other hand, are coming into the tournament after winning the Caribbean Premier League and they are one of the most formidable sides in the tournament, which also features teams from Australia, South Africa, New Zealand and Pakistan.
However, the Tridents will be without the services of three of their top players -- Kieron Pollard, Shoaib Malik and Dwayne Smith -- who have chosen to play for other teams in the tournament.
While Pollard led the Mumbai Indians (MI) before they were ousted in the qualifiers, Malik is playing for his Big Bash League (BBL) side Hobart Hurricanes and Smith is turning up for Chennai Super Kings (CSK).
Skipper Rayad Emrit has some key players in his team, which includes James Franklin, Neil McKenzie, Elton Chigumbura, Jeevan Mendis, Dilshan Munaweera and Ravi Rampaul and the onus will be on them to see the team through.
For Punjab, their bowling unit sans top pacer Mitchell Johnson gave a good account of themselves with Thisara Perera, Parwinder Awana, Akshar Patel and Karanveer Singh picking up wickets.
Teams:
Kings XI Punjab: George Bailey (C), Virender Sehwag, Anureet Singh, Parvinder Awana, Lakshmipathy Balaji, Rishi Dhawan, Mitchell Johnson, Karanveer Singh, Mandeep Singh, Glenn Maxwell, David Miller, Akshar Patel, Thisara Perera, Wriddhiman Saha, Manan Vohra.
Barbados Tridents: Rayad Emrit (C), Jonathan Carter, Elton Chigumbura, Shane Dowrich, James Franklin, Jason Holder, Akeal Hosein, Neil McKenzie, Kyle Mayers, Jeevan Mendis, Dilshan Munaweera, Ashley Nurse, William Perkins, Ravi Rampaul, Raymon Reifer.
