Mohali: Bowlers helped Kings XI Punjab (KXIP) register a convincing 12-run win over Rajasthan Royals (RR) in the IPL encounter here, Tuesday. Skipper Ravichandran Ashwin (2/24) was the pick of the bowlers and he was ably supported by another Ashwin – Murugan (1/24), left-arm pacer Arshdeep Singh (2/43) and Mohammed Shami (2/44).
Chasing 183 runs to win, Royals were off to flying start with openers Rahul Tripathi (50, 45b, 4×4) and Jos Buttler (23) adding 38 in four overs before the latter’s departure in the first ball off the fifth over.
Skipper Ajinkya Rahane (26) and Sanju Samson (27) got starts but couldn’t convert it into match-winning ones as Royals lost wickets at regular intervals to lose the match. Stuart Binny (31 n o, 11b, 1×4, 3×6) tried his best with a late cameo, but it was of no avail as Royals finished their innings at 170/7.
Earlier, opener KL Rahul (52, 47b, 3×4, 2×6) cracked a patient fifty before a terrific cameo by skipper Ashwin (17 n o, 4b, 1×4, 2×6) powered KXIP to a challenging 182/6 against Royals.
Rahul, who was named in the World Cup squad Monday, recovered after a slow start. He was ably supported by David Miller (40, 27b, 2×4, 2×6) as the duo shared a 85-run stand to lay the foundation.
Pacer Jofra Archer (3/15) returned with an exceptional three-wicket haul to emerge as the best bowler for the Royals.
Invited to bat, opener Gayle (30, 22b, 2×4, 3×6) smashed Jaydev Unadkat for a couple of sixes in the second over, before blasting Dhawal Kulkarni for a four and a six in the fifth over. Archer then had him caught behind by Sanju Samson in the sixth over as KXIP were 39/1 in the first powerplay overs.
Mayank Agarwal (26, 12b, 1×4, 2×6) was then off to a flying start before Ish Sodhi () removed him. Trying to play a slog sweep, Agarwal was caught by Archer at long-on.
Left stranded on the other end, Rahul tried to steady the ship with Miller. The duo took singles and twos before the duo up the ante.
In the 14th over, Rahul and Miller exploded after bringing up the hundred for KXIP. The duo amassed 19 runs off Sodhi’s over, his last, with Rahul smoking a massive six over deep square leg and Miller thumping one over long-off.
The two batsmen piled up 20 runs in the next over with Rahul hitting an inside-out shot over cover for a six and a four off Unadkat, and Miller disposing a full-toss over deep midwicket. Gopal then bowled an economical over next to compete his quota of four overs.
In the next over, Archer dismissed Miller on a no-ball before Rahul sent one across the mid-off area to complete his fifty in 45 balls.
Rahul perished early in the 18th over off Unadkat and Archer then bowled a superb over, removing Nicholas Pooran (5) and Mandeep Singh (0). Miller too was sent packing early in the 20th over by Kulkarni.
Brief scores: Kings XI Punjab 182/6 (KL Rahul 52, David Miller 40; Jofra Archer 3/15) bt Rajasthan Royals 170/7 (Rahul Tripathi 50; Ravichandran Ashwin 2/24) by 12 runs.
