Kings XI Punjab recorded their first win in the sixth edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) with a comfortable eight-wicket win over Pune Warriors India at the Subrata Roy Sahara Stadium here Sunday.
Excellent bowling juxtaposed with superlative fielding helped Punjab restrict the Warriors to a meagre 99 for nine.
In reply, two local youngsters from Punjab, Mandeep Singh (31) and Manan Vohra (43 not out) finished the game in no time with some clean hitting.
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They took the game to their opponents finding the boundary regularly. Pune didn't do their chances any good by dropping two catches and some lacklustre bowling.
Punjab scored 100 for two in 12.2 overs, ending the match with 46 balls to spare. Adam Gilchrist (15) and Mandeep Singh were the only wickets to fall for the hosts while David Hussey was unbeaten on eight.
Earlier, Pune, electing to bat, suffered a setback in the very first over of the match. Manish Pandey (0) edged a Praveen Kumar (2/31) ball back onto his stump, setting the trend for the rest of the innings.
Buoyed by the wicket, Punjab bowlers hit the right line and length and made it very difficult for Pune to score.
Tirulamasetti Suman (6) was the next to go with former Pakistan all-rounder Azhar Mahmood (2/19) coaxing him into an expansive shot and was easily caught by Praveen Kumar.
KXIP players celebrate their win. Pic/ AFP
A run out gave Punjab their third wicket while Robin Uthappa (19), who failed to get going, was castled by a low-keeping ball from leggie Piyush Chawla (1/19).
Things went from bad to worse for the hosts as skipper Angelo Mathews (4) edged an Parvinder Awana (1/16) ball straight into the gloves of his opposite number Adam Gilchrist.
With the opposition already tottering at 53 for five, Gurkeerat Singh took an exceptional one-handed catch on the square leg boundary to get rid of the dangerous Ross Taylor (15).
Mitchell Marsh (15) provided some fireworks for the home fans by hitting a boundary and the only six of the innings but he too fell soon enough clean bowled by his countryman from Australia Ryan Harris.
Abhishek Nayar (25 not out) battled on but with wickets falling all around him never got the opportunity to hit the big shots.
Pune have so far lost both their matches in this edition and are bottom of the table with zero points. Delhi Daredevils too lost their opening two matches but are seventh above Pune and Chennai Super Kings, who lost their first match to Mumbai Indians Saturday night, due to better run-rate.
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