IPL 2020 KKR vs KXIP: Gayle, Mandeep Singh hits fifty to power KXIP to fifth consecutive win; beats KKR by 8 wickets

By
Kunal Dhyani
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IPL 2020 KKR vs KXIP: Chris Gayle channelised his inner anger while Mandeep Singh played through immense personal grief as they conjured to script another chapter in a beautiful comeback story for Kings XI Punjab which beat Kolkata Knight Riders by eight wickets in the IPL on Monda

Chasing a target of 150, KXIP achieved the target in 18.5 overs losing only two wickets as they have now won their fifth successive match to keep play-off hopes alive.

Gayle, who was overlooked and was also ill during the first phase showed why he is the ‘Universe Boss’ during his innings of 51 off 29 balls with five sixes. Mandeep, who is grieving the loss of his father, anchored the chase with an unbeaten 66 off 56 balls

as the duo added 100 runs in 10.1 overs.

Such was the effect of Gayle-storm that it rubbed off on Mandeep (8×4, 2×6) who also completed a splendid sixth IPL half-century.

The duo added 100 runs from 61 balls to take them home with seven balls to spare.

KXIP’s dream run of five wins on the bounce not only took them to top-four but also opened up the table before the penultimate round.

KKR slipped to fifth with 12 points from 12 matches as with a negative run rate of (-0.479) things have become more difficult to make the last-four.

Opting to field, Kings XI Punjab dished out a disciplined bowling show, especially at the back-end, to restrict Kolkata Knight Riders to a modest 149/9.

Mohammed Shami (3/35) was the pick of the Kings XI Punjab bowlers while leg-spinner Ravi Bishnoi (2/20) and Chris Jordan (2/25) claimed two wickets apiece to put brakes on KKR who were invited to bat first.

After a familiar jittery start, KKR got the momentum going with opener Shubman Gill (57 off 45 balls) and skipper Eoin Morgan (40) firing all cylinders inside the Powerplay.

But KXIP’s last match hero Jordan pulled things back for his team by brilliantly mixing up his slow deliveries, while Bishnoi took the prized scalp of Morgan after KKR reached 54/3 inside the Powerplay.

Morgan holed out to Murugan Ashwin at deep square leg as Bishoi ended the freeflowing partnership for 81 runs from 47 balls and from then onwards KKR struggled to get going.

Earlier, KKR had another messy start and looked in deep trouble at 10/3 inside two overs after Shami’s exceptional first over.

But Morgan and Gill counter-attacked beautifully, getting the boundaries and sixes. The duo made full use of the Powerplay restrictions and Shami conceded 21 runs from his third over.

Gill showed his sheer class and timing, smacking Shami for back-to-back sixes.

This was after opener Nitish Rana got out for a golden duck and Shami dismissing Rahul Tripathi (7) and Dinesh Karthik (0) in the space of three balls.

10.54pm
KXIP wins by 8 wickets

Punjab seal the deal with seven balls to spare to register a comprehensive eight-wicket victory. Mandeep Singh (66*) and Chris Gayle (51) guided KXIP to 150/2 in 18.5 overs to a fifth consecutive victory in the IPL as they topple KKR to occupy the 4th place in the rankings.

10.52pm
Gayle falls for 51

Gayle attempts to ramp it, but it ends up taking a knick off his glove and carrying to short third man.

10.49pm

Mandeep Singh goes big, it’s a slightly off mark bouncer and it’s sent flying over midwicket! KXIP-147/1 after 18 overs; need more 3 from 12 balls

10.45pm
Fifty for Chris Gayle

A 30th IPL fifty for Chris Gayle, does this man even feel the effects of time, he’s still going as strong as he was in his first fifty! He reaches the mark in just 25 balls!

10.44pm

Last four overs of the match, it’s do or die time. Lockie Ferguson gets the ball, and yet again, it’s an expensive over. Chris Gayle starts off with a four and a six, before taking a risky single to bring up his 30th IPL fifty! What a knock from the Universe Boss. Just a couple more singles off the over, KXIP need 14 runs from 18. KXIP-136/1 after 17 overs

10.36pm

Strategic Timeout taken

KXIP-123/1 after 16 overs; need more 27 from 24 balls

10.32pm

Final over for Chakaravarthy. It begins with a boundary, courtesy of Mandeep Singh. That one was driven over extra cover. KXIP are ticking along quite nicely. Three singles and a well-run double make it 9 off the over. KXIP-113/1 after 15 overs; need more 37 from 30 balls

10.28pm
Fifty partnership comes up for Mandeep-Gayle

10.27pm
100 comes up for KXIP

KXIP-104/1 after 14 overs

10.22pm

Sunil Narine’s bowls his final over. He’s not been overtly expensive, but he’s struggled to put any real pressure on batsmen. He’ll end his involvement in the bowling tonight without a wicket, he’s hit for 10 runs in his final over, 6 of which come thanks to a big six from Chris Gayle. KXIP-96/1 after 13 overs; need more 54 from 42 balls

10.19pm

Lockie Ferguson is brought into the bowling attack by Eoin Morgan. Not in his first over, his opening delivery is sent away for a boundary. It’s not the only four of the over, Gayle gets on as well. 10 runs come off the over. KXIP-86/1 after 12 overs; need more 64 from 48 balls

10.16pm
Milestone for Mandeep Singh

10.15pm

Sunil Narine’s out to bowl, can he restrain his West Indies teammate? The first five balls are okay, just three singles off them. Chris Gayle then unleashes a monstrous maximum over wide long-on! He really is the best ace to have up your sleeve in situations like this. KXIP-76/1 after 11 overs; need more 74 from 54 balls

10.13pm
We reach the halfway mark!

Chakaravarthy to bowl his third over, he’ll be looking to add to that wicket. Unfortunately for him, Mandeep and Gayle don’t share his views. Mandeep begins the hitting with a reverse hit over short third man, before Chris Gayle bludgeons back to back sixes! 17 runs off the over. KXIP-67/1 after 10 overs

10.08pm
Fifty comes up for KXIP

The Universe Boss is out to bat, and with this being played at Sharjah, you know we’re likely to see some fireworks! Not just yet though, it’s a very good over from Narine, just the three singles come off it. It is enough to take KXIP past the fifty-run mark though. KXIP-50/1 after 9 overs

10.02pm
Strategic Timeout taken

KXIP-47/1 after 8 overs; need more 103 from 72 balls

9.59pm

With the powerplay done, Morgan’s decided to bring in Sunil Narine. What can he conjure up for KKR? It’s an alright over, just 5 runs off it. You have the feeling that KKR need a wicket, and need it soon, because at the moment, the KXIP batsmen are not really under that much pressure.

9.53pm
End of Powerplay!

KXIP-36/0 after 6 overs

 

9.47pm

KXIP-34/0 after 5 overs; need more 116 from 90 balls

9.43pm

Krishna’s back, and his first two balls are absolutely walloped for four by KL Rahul. The first one was over wide mid-on, the second straight of mid-off. Mandeep really needs to match his skipper’s intensity if KXIP are hoping to build a good opening partnership. A couple of singles on the last two balls of the over make it 10 runs from it. KXIP-21/0 after 4 overs ; need more 129 from 96 balls

9.39pm

KXIP-11/0 after 3 overs; need 139 from 17 overs

9.34pm

After already having been involved in the first over with that misfield, Prasidh Krishna gets an early chance to make amends for his mistake. Not a bad over, just four runs come off it, largely due to some dogged fielding from Nagarkoti, who chases down a shot that looked sure to be a boundary on the final ball. KXIP- 9/0 after 2 overs; need over 141 from 18 overs

9.30pm

KL Rahul and Mandeep to open for KXIP in the absence of Mayank Agarwal, and Pat Cummins will open KKR’s bowling attack. KXIP-5/0 after 1 over

9.26pm
We are underway for KXIP’s chase!

KL Rahul-Mandeep Singh opens batting for KXIP; Pat Cummins to start proceedings for KKR

9.12pm

KKR-149/9 after 20 overs; KXIP need 150 runs to win

9.07pm

Shami into the penultimate over of the innings. Ferguson drills the first through mid on for a single. Shubman holes out to Pooran on deep midwicket off the second, departs for 57. Ferguson goes inside out over the covers for a massive six. Nine runs and a wicket in the over. KKR-144/8 after 19 overs

9.04pm
Pat Cummins gone; KKR 8 down!

LBW, given by the umpire and KKR have no review. A wrong’un from Bishnoi, spinning down the leg side. Cummins fails to read it and gets trapped in front. He could have survived as replays showed it was spinning down the leg side. FOW-114/7

9.01pm

Jordan into the 18th over. Ferguson shows his might with the bat as he smacks the bowler for two consecutive boundaries off the first and second, both towards the off side. 11 runs off the over, two fours there as well. KKR-135/7 after 18 overs

8.55pm

KKR-124/7 after 17 overs

8.52pm

Bishnoi returns. Starts off with three dots. The third was a perfect googly from the leggie, KXIP went upstairs but the LBW review was turned down by the umpire. But Bishnoi finally trapped Cummins LBW off the fourth, courtesy another googly. Just one run and a wicket in the over. KKR-114/7 after 16 overs

8.47pm

Murugan Ashwin returns. Bowls a googly off the second that outfoxes Nagarkoti and dislodges his stumps. Just one run in the over. KKR are looking clueless here. Superb comeback by the KXIP spinners. KKR-114/6 after 15 overs

8.46pm
KKR go 6 down!

Comprehensively beaten. It was a googly from Murugan and rattled Nagarkoti’s stumps.

8.45pm

Spin from both ends as Murugan Ashwin returns. Starts off with four dots. Nagarkoti mistimes a shot off the fourth and the ball lands anxiously close to the fielder at cover. Gill gives the strike to Nagarkoti, who looked clueless on the last ball. Just two runs off the over. KKR-107/5 after 13 overs

8.33pm

Bishnoi into his second over and the 12th of the innings. Does a good job, manages to keep both the batters quiet. Just four runs off the over, all through singles. KKR-105/5 after 12 overs

8.29pm
100 comes up for KKR

KKR-101/5 after 11 overs

22pm
We reach the halfway mark!

Ravi Bishnoi comes into the attack. Shubman powers the first ball towards long on for a single. Morgan returns the favour off the next. Gill targets the straight boundary for a six off the third. KXIP finally get the breakthrough off the fourth – Morgan holes out to Ashwin at deep square leg. 10 runs and a wicket in that over. KKR-92/4 after 10 overs

8.20pm
KKR go 4 down

Bishnoi, the young leggie, with the breakthrough. And Morgan, the big fish has to walk back to the pavilion. Morgan swept well on that occasion but the ball carried straight to Ashwin at square leg.

8.19pm

KKR-82/3 after 9 overs

8.13pm

Murugan Ashwin comes into the attack. Both batsmen smack massive sixes. 12 runs off the over. A breakthrough will do the trick. KKR-80/3 after 8 overs

8.09pm

Maxwell returns after the powerplay and gets smacked for a four and a six from the blade of Morgan, who is taking the attack to KXIP. 12 runs off the over and we go into the time out! KKR-66/3 after 7 overs

8.05pm
End of Powerplay!

Final over of the powerplay and Shami returns for his third. KKR collect 21 runs off the over as Morgan smacks two boundaries, while Shubman Gill shows he has the spark with two sixes over deep mid-wicket.

7.58pm

Second last over before the powerplay ends and Arshdeep is back. Both the batsmen put on their dancing shoes and collect a boundary each. 10 runs off the over.

7.53pm

Shami returns. Shubman carefully defends the first before getting beaten by the bowler off the next. Shubman flicks the third for a single towards deep mid-wicket. Morgan goes over the infield on the off side for a boundary off the next. Five runs off the over.

7.41pm
Excellent over from Shami!

Shami comes into the attack. Starts off with two good length deliveries, both dots. Gill gets off the mark with a beautiful cover drive, just a single there courtesy a superb fielding effort by Maxwell. Bowls two beautiful outswingers to get rid of Tripathi and Karthik and the wicketkeeper completes simple catches. Superb over, just one run and two wickets off it. KKR-10/3 after 2 overs

7.40pm
KKR go 3 down!

Shami has been superb with his line and length in his first over. The ball doing just enough to take the outside edge of Karthik’s bat. Similar ball, similar dismissal.

7.39pm
KKR go 2 down!

Terrific delivery. Swinging away from Tripathi and the ball takes an outside edge of the right-hander’s bat. Second wicket in the second over and Shami provides the breakthrough.

7.37pm
Good start from Maxwell

Glenn Maxwell with the first over for KXIP. Gets rid of Nitish Rana on the second ball. The left hander swept the ball straight to Gayle at short fine leg. Tripathi slog sweeps the penultimate delivery for a massive six over deep mid-wicket. Nine runs and a wicket off the first. KKR-9/1 after 1 over

7.33pm
KKR lose Narine cheaply

Maxwell strikes in the very first over. Down leg from Maxwell, Rana sweeps but the ball carries straight to Gayle at short fine leg.

7.30pm
Aaand we are underway!

Gill and Narine open batting for KXIP; Maxwell to start proceeding for KXIP.

7.04pm
KXIP Playing XI

Kings XI Punjab (Playing XI): KL Rahul(w/c), Mandeep Singh, Chris Gayle, Nicholas Pooran, Glenn Maxwell, Deepak Hooda, Chris Jordan, Murugan Ashwin, Ravi Bishnoi, Mohammed Shami, Arshdeep Singh

 

 

7.03pm
KKR playing XI

Kolkata Knight Riders (Playing XI): Shubman Gill, Nitish Rana, Rahul Tripathi, Dinesh Karthik(w), Eoin Morgan(c), Sunil Narine, Pat Cummins, Lockie Ferguson, Kamlesh Nagarkoti, Prasidh Krishna, Varun Chakravarthy

 

7pm
Toss results

KL Rahul opts to bat first; KKR will open batting

6.40pm
Top performance from KKR bowlers in IPL 2020; Can they repeat the magic tonight?

Varun Chakravarthy – 5/20 vs DC

Lockie Ferguson – 3/15 vs SRH

Pat Cummins – 3/17 vs DC

Prasidh Krishan – 3/29 vs KXIP

6.20pm

The final preparations are done. Can KL Rahul lead his team to a fifth consecutive win tonight?

6pm

We are exactly one hour away from toss

Pitch Conditions: Sharjah Cricket Stadium pitch has slowed down considerably, with the new-ball bowlers ruling the roost of late. When the tournament started, Sharjah strip offered plenty of runs and support for the batsmen who enjoyed batting on this wicket but it is not the same anymore.

The likes of Siraj and Boult have enjoyed conditions due to the early swing on offer, which should be the case in this game as well. Interestingly, bowlers will hold the key to both sides’ fortunes, the batsmen should be able to play their natural game once they get used to the pace of the surface. However, the dimensions of the ground favour the batter as the straight boundaries are very small. With the likes of Gayle, Rahul, Pooran, Morgan and Russell in action – we can expect a run-fest on Monday. Both teams will look to chase upon winning the toss, with 170 being a competitive total at this venue.

5.41pm
Can Varun Chakravarthy weave his magic tonight too?

Varun Chakravarthy was on a roll with the ball against DC and following his match-winning effort of 5/20, became the first bowler to take a five-wicket haul this season. The mystery spinner will be eager to continue his good form.

5.25pm

On this auspicious day of ‘Bijaya Dashmi’ in Kolkata, can KKR churn out a win with Durga’s blessings tonight!

5:00 PM : Dream11 IPL 2020 KKR vs KXIP : Today Sunrisers Hyderabad & KingsXI Punjab will pray for KXIP’s victory against KKR – Check why ?

4:30 PM :KKR vs KXIP in Dream11 IPL 2020 : Approaching Milestones

  • Rahul Tripathi needs 60 runs to complete 1000 IPL runs.
  • Nitish Rana requires 87 runs to complete 1000 IPL runs for KKR.
  • Chris Gayle needs 16 runs to complete 1000 IPL runs for KXIP.
  • KL Rahul requires 65 runs to complete 2000 IPL runs as wicketkeeper.

3:30 : IPL 2020 KKR vs KXIP : Check the likely teams for both squads

KKR Probable XI: Shubman Gill, Nitish Rana, Rahul Tripathi, Dinesh Karthik (wk), Sunil Narine, Eoin Morgan (c), Pat Cummins, Shivam Mavi/Kamlesh Nagarkoti, Lockie Ferguson, Prasidh Krishna, Varun Chakravarthy.

Mayank Agarwal is looking better and may replace Mandeep in squad but his final fitness will be tested before the match

KXIP Probable XI: KL Rahul (c, wk), Mayank Agarwal/Mandeep Singh, Chris Gayle, Nicholas Pooran, Glenn Maxwell/James Neesham, Deepak Hooda, Chris Jordan, M Ashwin, Ravi Bishnoi, Mohammed Shami, Arshdeep Singh.

12:00 : IPL 2020 KKR vs KXIP : Big News it is unlikely that Andre Russell will play this game for KKR. Russell is yet to recover from his injury.

Good News for KXIP – Mayank Agarwal has recoverd from his niggle and should in the XI for this crunch tie against KXIP.

11:00 : IPL 2020 KKR vs KXIP : How today’s match can impact the playoff fate for others ?
 
Kolkata Knight Riders : KKR is leading the race at this stage by the virtue of 12 points in 11 matches. If KKR wins today, they will be in driving seat to finalize playoff spot. If they lose, KXIP will overtake them. 
 
KingsXI Punjab : KXIP is on a hot winning streak of 4 matches @ 10 points currently from 11 matches. If KXIP wins, they will move to 4th in the points table and can drive their destiny on their own. If they lose, it will be difficult for them to qualify. KXIP next two games are against RR and CSK but even if they win both – they would still struggle to qualify in scenario of defeat to KKR today.
Rajasthan Royals – If the Kings XI beat the Knight Riders and then both the teams lose their last two games, Rajasthan Royals can qualify without net run rate coming into play as they will reach 14 points, whereas the Kings XI and the Knight Riders will have 12.

If the Kings XI or the Sunrisers manage to reach 14, the Royals then will only have a very slim chance to make the final four on net run rate, as theirs is a poor -0.505. The only team’s NRR they can possibly match is the Knight Riders’ (-0.476), so they will hope to compete only with the Knight Riders for that fourth spot. So Royals would want a KXIP win today. 

Sunrisers Hyderabad – The most precariously placed team. SRH needs win in all 3 matches against DC, RCB and MI and still would have to be dependent on other results. They would also want that KXIP wins today against KKR. 

 

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