Toppling fancied opposition has become a welcome addition to the Kings XI Punjab's resume. Adam Gilchrist recently said: “There hasn't been anyone who has dropped the head too much saying ‘we can't compete.'”
Perhaps that confidence helped the team stay afloat after a productive chase almost hobbled on a walking stick as three run-outs marred the final thrust before Piyush Chawla's six off Vinay Kumar triggered smiles and embraces within the Kings XI dugout.
After derailing Chennai Super Kings, Kings XI ambushed another host as Royal Challengers Bangalore suffered a four-wicket defeat in the IPL match at the Chinnaswamy Stadium on Wednesday. RCB's turgid 158 for five failed to stretch the visitor as Kings XI scored 163 for six in 19.5 overs.
Confident knock
The pursuit was mounted on Mandeep Singh's (43) bluster that helped him irritate Zaheer Khan with a six over square-leg. The opener gave enough opportunities for team owner Preity Zinta to punch the air and wave the Kings XI flag despite Andrew McDonald cleaning up Shaun Marsh earlier. True to his 20 summers, Mandeep played with irreverence and also watched an upper-cut graze Chris Gayle's fingers before failing on the sweep against K.P. Appanna.
Nitin Saini (50) and skipper David Hussey (45) kept their feet on the pedal and RCB withered away much to the chagrin of its fans, whose prayers for a rain-free night were answered but not the ones beseeching a home triumph. Saini's straight-driven four off McDonald was a treat while Hussey scattered Appanna with impunity.
An easy triumph seemed to be set in stone before the glass cracked as Azhar Mahmood, Hussey and Abhishek Nayar embraced the death-wish with some pointless running.
Zaheer Khan's over, the penultimate one that went for just two runs, roused the audience from its stupor but though Vinay tried his best in the concluding over, RCB's below-par total proved to be the final nemesis.
Parsimonious spell
Earlier Hussey's decision to field found strong approval in Praveen Kumar's parsimonious spell of 4-0-8-0. RCB's early base was built on overwhelming caution interspersed with the odd aggressive volley as Gayle (71) bided his time after Mayank Agarwal's early loss. Gayle though had a measure of Harris, punishing the slightest variance in line and length.
Watching Gayle, Virat Kohli (45) too found his true self though in measured tones. Kohli eased himself against Awana and once Chawla bowled short, the mid-wicket billboard was clattered.
At the other end, Gayle proved that he also has a soft hand with a flicked four off Awana. And when a few fans implored with a ‘please hit us' placard, the opener played it safe and hoisted Nayar for a six that sailed over the roof!
Gayle and Kohli added 119 runs for the second wicket off 83 balls and that provided the lone sparkle for the host while ‘Man-of-the-match' Mahmood (three for 20) again reiterated his utility for Kings XI.
After Gayle holed out to substitute Andrew Miller in the deep — the fielder belatedly making amends for dropping the opener on 39 — RCB eked just 32 from the last 28 balls. That timidity eventually proved fatal.
Scoreboard
Royal Challengers Bangalore: M. Agarwal b Harris 7 (9b, 1x6), C. Gayle c (sub) Miller b Mahmood 71 (42b, 6x4, 4x6), V. Kohli b Chawla 45 (42b, 3x4, 2x6), A.B. de Villiers c Chawla b Mahmood 17 (13b, 1x4, 1x6), A. McDonald c Saini b Mahmood 9 (10b, 1x4), Asad Pathan (not out) 2 (3b), S. Tiwary (not out) 1 (1b); Extras (b-1, w-5): 6. Total (for five wkts. in 20 overs): 158.
Fall of wickets: 1-7 (Agarwal), 2-126 (Gayle), 3-134 (Kohli), 4-154 (McDonald), 5-155 (de Villiers).
Kings XI Punjab bowling: Praveen 4-0-8-0, Harris 2-0-21-1, Awana 4-0-48-0, Mahmood 4-0-20-3, Chawla 3-0-35-1, Nayar 1-0-16-0, Hussey 2-0-9-0.
Kings XI Punjab: Mandeep lbw b Appanna 43 (30b, 6x4, 1x6), S. Marsh bMcDonald 8 (10b, 1x4), N. Saini c Vettori b McDonald 50 (36b, 5x4), D. Hussey (run out) 45 (29b, 2x4, 4x6), A. Mahmood (run out) 2 (4b), A. Nayar (run out) 2 (3b), P. Dogra (not out) 3 (5b), P. Chawla (not out) 6 (2b, 1x6); Extras (lb-2, w-2): 4. Total (for six wkts., in 19.5 overs): 163.
Fall of wickets: 1-38 (Marsh), 2-73 (Mandeep), 3-146 (Saini), 4-151 (Mahmood), 5-154 (Hussey), 6-154 (Nayar).
Royal Challengers Bangalore bowling: Zaheer 4-0-31-0, Vinay3.5-0-32-0, McDonald 4-0-25-2, Vettori 4-0-29-0, Appanna 3-0-30-1, Asad Pathan 1-0-14-0.
Man-of-the-match: A. Mahmood.
