Punjab lose to Bhajji-led MI

KXIP made no changes to their playing eleven.

MI made a couple of changes to their playing eleven – Thisara Perera and Pragyan Ojha made way for Robin Peterson and Clint McKay.

On winning the toss, David Hussey, KXIP’s skipper, chose to bat.

The first Powerplay of KXIP’s innings – which was the mandatory Powerplay – was between the first and the sixth over. They scored 44, and lost a wicket.

Mandeep Singh, whose 16-ball innings included four boundaries, scored 22. Thirty-three balls into the match, he was caught by Dinesh Karthik. Rudra Pratap Singh broke the 35-run stand.

Saini, whose 22-ball (Nit)innings included a couple of boundaries, scored 17. Fourteen balls later, he was caught by Munaf. McKay broke the (Pat)eleven-run stand.

KXIP scored 50 off 8.4 overs (53 balls). MI had conceded an extra at that point.

Shaun Marsh, whose 26-ball (Frankl)innings included a boundary, scored 17. Forty-five balls after Saini’s dismissal, he was caught by Harbhajan Singh, MI’s skipper. James broke the 33-run stand.

KXIP scored 100 off 15 overs (91 balls). MI had conceded 10 extras at that point. That was, incidentally, the number of extras they eventually conceded.

The fourth-wicket pair put on 50 off 27 balls. While Hussey’s contribution to the partnership was 25, David Miller’s contribution to it was 19. Extras’ contribution to the partnership gave MI no reason to be in seventh heaven.

Hussey’s half-century – which included three boundaries and as many sixes – came off 30 balls.

KXIP scored 150 off 19 overs (115 balls).

Hussey, whose 40-ball innings included four boundaries and as many sixes, eventually scored 68. He was unbeaten, as was Miller, who eventually scored 34 off 17 balls, which included a boundary and three sixes.

KXIP scored 168 for the loss of three wickets off 20 overs.

Peterson bowled a wicketless over, conceding three.

Harbhajan and Kieron Pollard bowled three wicketless overs apiece. While the former conceded 29, the latter conceded 27.

Patel bowled four wicketless overs, including a maiden. He conceded 41.

Franklin bowled an over, conceding five. He picked up a wicket, as did McKay and Rudra Pratap, who bowled four overs apiece. While the former conceded 36, the latter conceded 27.

The first Powerplay of MI’s innings – which was the mandatory Powerplay – was between the first and the sixth over. They scored 40, without the loss of a wicket.

MI’s openers put on 50 off 7.2 overs (44 balls). KXIP had conceded a couple of extras at that point. While Franklin’s contribution to the partnership was 22, Sachin Tendulkar’s contribution to it was 27.

Franklin, whose run-a-ball innings included a couple of boundaries, didn’t add to the aforementioned score. Forty-seven balls into the chase, he was caught by Saini. Azhar Mahmood broke the 52-run partnership.

Tendulkar, whose 29-ball innings included four boundaries, eventually scored 34. Eight balls later, he was caught by Saini. Needless to say, Mahmood was in seventh heaven.

Karthik, who faced half-a-dozen balls, scored three. Ten balls (Chaw)later, he was caught by Mahmood. Needless to say, Piyush was in seventh heaven.

Pollard had no reason to be in seventh heaven – he scored just three. Seventeen balls later, he was caught by Mandeep. Parvinder Awana broke the 24-run stand.

MI scored 100 off 14.3 overs (87 balls). KXIP had conceded five extras at that point.

Rohit’s half-century – which included three boundaries and aS(har)many sixes – came off 29 balls.

He faced 30 balls, failing to add to the aforementioned score. Twenty-three balls after Pollard’s dismissal, he was caught by Mahmood. Awana broke the 45-run stand.

The sixth-wicket pair didn’t get off the mark. Harbhajan, who faced a couple of balls, didn’t open his account. A couple of balls later, he was caught by Marsh off the bowling of Awana.

MI scored 150 off 18.3 overs (112 balls). KXIP had conceded eight extras at that point.

Ambati Rayudu, the player of the match, scored 34 off 17 balls, which included a couple of boundaries and as many sixes. He was unbeaten, as was Peterson, who scored 16 off seven balls, which included a couple of boundaries and a six.

KXIP eventually conceded nine extras. MI, who scored 171 for the loss of half-a-dozen wickets off 19.5 overs, won by four wickets with a ball to spare.

Bhargav Bhatt and Praveen Kumar bowled four wicketless overs apiece. While the former conceded 34, the latter conceded 25.

Chawla bowled four overs, conceding 46. He picked up a wicket.

Mahmood bowled 3.5 overs, conceding 23. He picked up two wickets.

Awana, who bowled four overs, conceded 39. He picked up three scalps.