Punjab power past Chennai
The Kings XI Punjab upstaged the Chennai Super Kings thanks to a seven-run victory in Saturday's 2012 Indian Premier League clash in Chepauk.
The Kings XI Punjab upstaged the Chennai Super Kings thanks to a seven-run victory in Saturday's 2012 Indian Premier League clash in Chepauk.
The defending champions proved largely inadequate with the bat and were left to rue Wriddhiman Saha's promotion up the order.
Chasing a testing target after a half-century from Mandeep Singh and a cavalier cameo from Shaun Marsh pushed the Punjab outfit to 156 for eight, Chennai enjoyed a fluid start on the back of Subramaniam Badrinath and Faf du Plessis' collective effort.
The duo struck 47 inside six overs for the first wicket and prompted a piece of experimentation from the home camp.
Sent in ahead of Mahendra Singh Dhoni, Albie Morkel and Dwayne Bravo, the right-handed Saha proved somewhat out of his depth, and scraped together just six runs from all of 14 deliveries.
His pedestrian effort left the remainder of the order with a lot to do, and the pressure ultimately tolled. Bravo did his utmost to keep his side in the hunt, but his 30 from 21 wasn't nearly enough.
Parvinder Awana's fourth and final over – the third-last of the innings – was particularly telling. The Indian seamer conceded a mere seven runs and, for his economical showing, all but sealed the deal for the Kings XI Punjab. Pakistan all-rounder Azhar Mahmood, meanwhile, fetched figures three for 25.
Earlier the visitors managed to squander Man of the Match Mandeep and Marsh's hard work. Their 68-run partnership inside nine overs was laid to waste by an inconvenient wobble that saw five wickets fall during the final 20 deliveries of the innings.
Albie Morkel was the pick of the Chennai bowlers, finishing with figures of 29, while fellow seamer Bravo landed two for 28.
Saturday's result meant no movement in the nine-team standings, with the Super Kings still sitting at third and the Punjab franchise at eighth.
Latest
-
NewsJofra Archer determined to keep playing Test cricket for England
After an 18-month injury nightmare, the fast bowler is two days into his comeback match in Abu Dhabi.
-
NewsGlenn McGrath concerned over ODI cricket’s future after seeing almost-empty MCG
Just over 4,000 fans attended Australia’s third ODI against England.
-
IndiaKisma News: Mohammed Siraj did his best to cement his place in Team India against New Zealand
India’s tour of New Zealand was a series that served little to no purpose for either side except for keeping up bilateral ties…
-
NewsJon Lewis: England are ready to grow wings and fly
Lewis was appointed as Lisa Keightley’s replacement last week.
-
NewsJofra Archer back in action as Lions warm-up England Test team for Pakistan tour
Archer has not played competitively for 18 months due to longstanding elbow problems and a stress fracture of the lower back.
-
NewsTeenage leg-spinner Rehan Ahmed added to England squad for Pakistan Test tour
The 18-year-old could become England’s youngest ever men’s Test cricketer if selected in Rawalpindi, Multan or Karachi.
-
NewsMatthew Mott believes Dawid Malan can make his way into World Cup defence
Malan was one of the few positives to emerge from England’s 3-0 ODI series whitewash defeat to Australia.
-
NewsJustin Langer hits out at ‘cowards’ in Australia squad for media leaks
Langer departed in February after being offered only a six-month contract extension.
-
EnglandFlat finish and schedule strife – what we learnt from Australia vs England ODI series?
The T20 World Cup champions suffered a 3-0 loss to Australia.
-
NewsLuke Wright named new selector for England’s men’s team
The 37-year-old was part of England’s T20 World Cup winning team in 2010.