Kings XI Punjab defeated defending champions Kolkata Knight Riders by just four runs in a thrilling Indian Premier League match played at the Punjab Cricket Association Stadium, Mohali on Tuesday.
Chasing Punjab's 157/9, Kolkata could only manage 153/9 in their quota of 20 overs. With 11 runs required off the last over bowled by Praveen Kumar, KKR only managed six giving the hosts their second win in four matches.
Playing first, Opener Mandeep Singh (41) and David Miller (20) gave a solid dtart to Kings XI but once they were out Punjab lost wickets in quick succession.
KKR off-spinner Sunil Narine clinched the first hat trick of the sixth edition of the tourney. Sachitra Senanayake (2/28) and Kallis (3/24) ran through the Kings XI batting order before Gony's four boundaries and three sixes put the hosts back into contention.
Gony came in to bat when his team was tottering at 99/6. Gony then hit Narine for 23 runs in the penultimate over to bring his team back on track, helping Kings XI reach a respectable total.
While chasing, KKR lost two wickets Manvinder Bisla (0) and Jacques Kallis (1) in quick succession but then captain Gautam Gambhir (60) and Eoin Morgan (47) struck a fantastic third wicket partnership of 105 runs in 11.5 overs.
After the fall of these two, KKR slided. KKR tried to steady their ship with Yusuf Pathan (13) and Rajat Bhatia (16), who hit two sixes in the penultimate over, bringing down the asking rate from 30 runs in two overs to 11 in one.
However, regular loss of wickets gave away the victory to the hosts.
In the end it was Manpreet Gony's 18-ball 42 which made the difference between the two teams and hence he was awarded with Man of the match award.
Scoreboard of the match between Kings XI Punjab and Kolkata Knight Riders:
Kings XI Punjab:
Mandeep Singh c Bisla b Kallis 41
Manpreet Gony b Kallis 42
Extras (b 1, lb 2, w 3) 6
Total: (for nine wickets in 20 overs) 157
Bowling:
Jaques Kallis 4-0-24-3
Sachithra Senanayake 4-0-28-2
Sunil Narine 4-0-33-3
Kolkata Knight Riders:
Gautam Gambhir c Gilchrist b Gony 60
Eoin Morgan c Hussey b Azhar Mahmood 47
Extras (lb 7, w 5) 12
Total: (for nine wickets in 20 overs) 153
Bowling:
Praveen Kumar 4-0-26-2
Azhar Mahmood 4-0-21-3
Parvinder Awana 4-0-39-2
Umpires: CK Nandan and Simon Taufel (Australia)
TV umpire: Kyumar Dharmasena (Sri Lanka)
Match referee: Roshan Mahanama (Sri Lanka)
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