Rising Pune Supergiant first dismissed Kings XI Punjab for 73 all-out and then overtook their total in just 12 overs with a nine-wicket win.
Kings XI Punjab’s chances for the playoffs were dashed when they capitulated to a 9-wicket loss to Rising Pune Supergiant. Batting first, Punjab lasted just a ball under 16 overs and managed to make 73 runs. Pune surpassed that total in 12 overs for the loss of one wicket. It now means that Pune are second on the league table and thus have confirmed a date with Mumbai Indians in the playoffs.
Kings XI Punjab came into the match against Rising Pune Supergiant on the back of a clash of gargantuan proportions against Mumbai Indians, in terms of runs scored. They did concede nearly as many, but what is to be remembered is that Punjab, batting first, made a target of 231 for Mumbai to chase. That performance came after their win against Kolkata Knight Riders and it looked like Punjab, who had their backs against walls in the league stages, had finally come to their own.
Given the new ball after Supergiant put Kings XI Punjab to bat, Unadkat struck off the very first delivery and gave his team a dream start, removing Punjab’s hard-hitting Kiwi opening batsman Martin Guptill for a golden duck. An off-cutter which was delivered wide to tempt Guptill into a drive and the batsman obliged by hitting it straight to Manoj Tiwary at cover.
Eoin Morgan joined Saha at the crease and got going with a boundary before Unadkat decided to turn the heat on once again, this time from the outfield.
Pune took apart the resurgent Punjab batting line-up and the visitors found themselves dismissed for 73 in just under 16 overs. Pune reached the total in 12 overs for the cost of one wicket. It was a match that acted as a virtual knock-out as both teams were within reach of the playoffs.
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