IPL 2017: Kings XI Punjab bowlers script perfect turnaround against Kolkata Knight Riders

Kings XI Punjab beat visitors by 14 runs in a thrilling match in Mohali that keeps alive their hopes of qualifying for the Indian Premier League play-offs.

Kings XI Punjab bowler Rahul Tewatia, right, celebrates after he dismissed Kolkata Knight Riders batsman and team captain Gautam Gambhir. Sajjad Hussain / AFP

Just after winning the toss in the Indian Premier League match against hosts Kings XI Punjab in Mohali, the visiting captain of Kolkata Knight Riders, Gautam Gambhir, said: “We have been chasing well, so no point changing that. You play to win.”

What transpired over the next 40 overs proved why the Twenty20 format is so popular as Punjab, with their backs to the wall, won the game by 14 runs in a thrilling match.

Punjab still need to win their remaining two matches and hope Sunrisers Hyderabad lose their final game for them to overtake the latter as the fourth team in the play-offs.

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Kolkata were always in control even when Punjab finished with 167 runs on the board, as was evident when Glenn Maxwell (44) and Wriddhiman Saha (38) in the middle order ended as their top two scorers.

Then Chris Lynn, who diagnosed himself “not 100 per cent fit” before the game, took on the dangerous Punjab spearhead bowler Sandeep Sharma and hit him for three fours in the first over to take the fight to the opposition.

Lynn was playing his second match after being out for a month with shoulder injury.

With Lynn running away to a quick fire half-century and the team 76 for one in nine overs, Kolkata seemed to have ended Punjab’s challenge.

But a disciplined bowling performance saw Kings XI turn the screws, taking five wickets at the cost of 77 runs. Lynn was run out for a 52-ball knock of 84 with three sixes and eight boundaries.

Leg-spinner Rahul Tewatia, one of five changes for Punjab, finished with 2-18. Medium-pacer Mohit Sharma also took two wickets for 24.

Punjab captain Maxwell said in the post-match presentation: “I asked for an improved performance on the field and certainly got that tonight.

“They [the bowlers] were at their calmest, they knew what to do and executed it well.”

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