Kings XI Punjab have done it again

May 4, 2009

In Sunday’s match between the Kolkata Knight Riders, the Kings XI Punjab came out on top by six wickets. They needed only 7 runs to win off the final over. Scores were tied on the last ball. The anticipation was so thick in the air you could cut it with a knife. Irfan Pathan sliced teh ball giving his team the all-important single and a 4th victory in 7 matches.

The Kings XI Pujnab moved up to second spot in the DLF IPL standings for this season, making them 1 of 3 teams level on 8 points. Many conclude that it was poor fielding by Kolkata, who dropped 4 catches, that edged the Kings past them. On the other hand Sunny Sohal (25 off 17 balls, three sixes) and Simon Katich (34 off 28 balls, three fours and a six) also gave them the push they needed.

The Man of the Match went to Jayawardene (52 not out off 41 balls). Credit must go to Brad Hodge who delivered a commendable performance - undefeated 70 to rise to third in the race for the Orange Cap for leading run-scorers in Season 2009 with a total of 230 runs. Hodge follows 2 players from the Chennai Super Kings – left hand opening batsmen Mathew Hayden who with 246 runs leads the Orange Cap standings, who is closely followed by his team-mate Suresh Raina with 232 runs. Hodge, whose 70 came off 43 balls, hit 10 fours and a six. With Sourav Ganguly (22 off 17 balls) and Morne van Wyk (18 off 12), he helped add 75 runs in the final six overs of the Kolkata Knight Riders innings.