<img title="Hashim Amla during his match-defining innings vs Gujarat Lions at Rajkot on Sunday. Pic/PTI" src="http://images.mid-day.com/images/2017/apr/amla-win.jpg" alt="Hashim Amla during his match-defining innings vs Gujarat Lions at Rajkot on Sunday. Pic/PTI" /> Hashim Amla during his match-defining innings vs Gujarat Lions at Rajkot on Sunday. Pic/PTI
Rajkot:&nbsp;Kings XI Punjab rode on the destructive half century by Hashim Amla and some quality bowling to thrash Gujarat Lions by 26 runs in their Indian Premier League 2017 encounter here on Sunday.
Chasing 189 to win, Gujarat could only manage 162/7 thanks mainly to the fighting innings by Dinesh Karthik, who remained unbeaten on&nbsp;58 off 44 deliveries.
Guajrat skipper Suresh Raina looked threatening for a while during his innings of 32 off 24 balls, but once he was back in the pavilion, the hosts didn't look like they wer in the race.
<img title="Kings XI Punjab cricketer KC Cariappa (C) celebrates with teammates after taking the wicket of Gujarat Lions cricketer Akshdeep Nath during the 2017 Indian Premier League (IPL) Twenty20 cricket match between Gujarat Lions and Kings XI Punjab at The Saurashtra Cricket Association Stadium in Rajkot on Sunday. Pic/AFP" src="http://images.mid-day.com/images/2017/apr/kxip-rajkot.jpg" alt="Kings XI Punjab cricketer KC Cariappa (C) celebrates with teammates after taking the wicket of Gujarat Lions cricketer Akshdeep Nath during the 2017 Indian Premier League (IPL) Twenty20 cricket match between Gujarat Lions and Kings XI Punjab at The Saurashtra Cricket Association Stadium in Rajkot on Sunday. Pic/AFP" /> Kings XI Punjab cricketer KC Cariappa (C) celebrates with teammates after taking the wicket of Gujarat Lions cricketer Akshdeep Nath during the 2017 Indian Premier League (IPL) Twenty20 cricket match between Gujarat Lions and Kings XI Punjab at The Saurashtra Cricket Association Stadium in Rajkot on Sunday. Pic/AFP
Earlier, opener Hashim Amla played a crucial knock of 65 as Kings XI Punjab posted a challenging total of 188/7 in 20 overs against Gujarat Lions.
Amla (65; 40b; 9x4, 2x6) shared a 70-run stand for the second wicket with Shaun Marsh (30 off 24 balls) at the Saurashtra Cricket Association Stadium here.
The partnership came after Manan Vohra (2) edged a Nathu Singh delivery to wicket-keeper Dinesh Karthik in the second over. Both Amla and Marsh played aggressive cricket to put the presure on the Gujarat Lions.
While Amla utilised his strong off-side stroke-making to good effect, Marsh decided to take more risk, hitting over the infield. By the end of the Powerplay overs, they reached 50/1, with Amla leading the charge.
The partnership was broken in the 10th over when a slow delivery from medium pacer Andrew Tye saw Marsh mistime and giving an easy catch to Suresh Raina at midwicket, with Punjab at 81/2 in 9.2 overs.
The same over saw Amla complete his fifty in 30 deliveries and the stage was set for Punjab's power hitters. Amla was joined by Glenn Maxwell and the pair went on the offensive from the word go.
Maxwell took only 18 deliveries to score 31 before being dismissed lbw against left-arm spinner Ravindra Jadeja in the 14th over. Amla fell an over before him, driving one straight back at leg-spinner Shubham agarwal.
However, the fireworks from Punjab didn't stop as Axar Patel batted with disdain, playing a quickfire 34 off 17 deliveries, of which three went for fours and two were deposited in the stands against Dwayne Smith as Punjab ended at 188/7.
Brief scores: Punjab: 188/7 in 20 overs (Hashim Amla 65, Axar Patel 34, Glenn Maxwell 31; Andrew Tye 2/35, Nathu Singh 1/7) vs Gujarat.

Hashim Amla's sublime touch was&nbsp;complemented by some disciplined bowling, which powered Kings XI&nbsp;Punjab to a comfotable 26-run win over Gujarat Lions in their IPL encounter on Sunday

IPL 2017: Hashim Amla, bowlers ensure Punjab lords over Gujarat Lions 

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Hashim Amla's sublime touch was&nbsp;complemented by some disciplined bowling, which powered Kings XI&nbsp;Punjab to a comfotable 26-run win over Gujarat Lions in their IPL encounter on Sunday

IPL 2017: Hashim Amla, bowlers ensure Punjab lords over Gujarat Lions

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IPL 2017: Hashim Amla, bowlers ensure Punjab lords over Gujarat Lions

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