How Kings XI Punjab lost the plot and the match to Rajasthan Royals in a matter of 24 balls
How Kings XI Punjab lost the plot and the match to Rajasthan Royals in a matter of 24 balls Yuvraj Singh's wicket triggered Kings XI Punjab's collapse
Chasingu00a0a target of 184, Kings XI Punjab were on track half-way into their innings at 102 for two with 82 needed of 60 balls. Yuvraj Singh was batting on 12 balls and opener Ravi Bopara was anchoring the innings with 20. But then, the match turned on its head in a matter of overs.
Read on to know how...
11th over
After conceding just four off his first over, Siddharth Trivedi's first three balls of his second over goes for just three even as Yuvraj is looking to take the attack to him. The fourth ball is dropped short and Yuvraj swats it to midwicket. But Michael Lumb drops a sitter that misses his hands and bounces off the chest. One ball later, Yuvi is back on strike and fails to read the slower one, spooning a catch to Faiz Fazal at mid-on, who runs back a few yards to take the catch.
Royals are back in with a shout.
12th over
Left-arm spinner Adam Voges is brought into the attack and he applies the pressure brilliantly, conceding just five runs. Punjab now need 72 off 48 and the run rate has climbed to 9. Just two overs earlier, it was 8.20.
13th over
Skipper Shane Warne brings back Munaf Patel. The opening bowler has conceded 39 runs off his three overs and this is surely a gamble. But Munaf responds well and after a dot ball, Mahela Jayawardene gets a single.
Bopara is on strike and the onus is on the opener now to up the tempo. He charges down and flicks the ball wide off mid-on, where Trivedi, with arms outstretched, takes a good low catch. Irfan Pathan is the new man in and off the last ball of the over, Abhishek Jhunjhunwala runs him out with great presence of mind. Jayawardene gets a leading edge to a slower one from Munaf.
The ball lobs over the bowler, who sticks out his hand but can't reach the ball. Pathan is watching the ball and by the time he realises he is short of the crease, Jhunjhunwala rushes in from cover and hits the stumps with an underarm flick. Punjab are in big trouble now at 115 for 5, needing 69 from 42 balls at 9.85 per over.
14th over
WITH Royals having the upper hand, Warne introduces Yusuf Pathan to send down his fast off breaks. With the last batting pair at the crease, it is up to Jayawardene and Mohammad Kaif to take the team home.
Kaif, who was sent back from South Africa by the Royals last year, would have been itching to prove his worth. But Pathan bowls a tight line and traps Kaif plumb in front.
Just five off the over and Royals are well and truly home with Punjab needing 57 from 30 balls with just four wickets remaining.
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