IPL 2019: Rahul's unbeaten 71 takes KXIP to eight-wicket win

IPL 2019 KXIP vs MI LIVE scores: Follow live updates from the IPL match between Kings XI Punjab and Mumbai Indians.

Updated : Mar 30, 2019 19:42 IST

KL Rahul brought up his half-century with a boundary.
KL Rahul brought up his half-century with a boundary.
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KL Rahul brought up his half-century with a boundary.

Hello and welcome to Sportstar's live coverage of the IPL match between Kings XI Punjab and Mumbai Indians.

SCORES×
 

KL Rahul struck an unbeaten 57-ball 71 including six boundaries and a six as Kings XI romped home by eight wickets.   For Mumbai, Krunal was the lone wicket taker with two scalps. He was also the most expensive bowler tonight, with brother Hardik coming a close second.

That would be all from our side, head over to our live coverage of the second match where Delhi Capitals has won the toss and inserted KKR in to bat.

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◘ Bumrah too taking a beating at the hands of KL, who has dispatched India's pace sensation for two back-to-back boundaries eating away at the deficit in quick time. Punjab needs 6 in 12 balls with KL unbeaten on 66 off 55 balls.  Rahul and Miller have added 54 runs for the third wicket. KXIP 171/2 after 18 overs.

 

◘ KL Rahul smacks a back of a length Hardik delivery over deep backward point for six before hitting a boundary off the fourth delivery. Rahul finding his touch back at the right time. Pandya brothers have been at the receiving end tonight, the two have leaked 82 in seven overs for just two wickets! The Karnataka batsman racks up his half-century with a boundary off Malinga. Punjab now needs 25 runs in 24 balls. KXIP 152/2 after 16 overs.

◘ A wicket against the run of play and it is Krunal who completes a tough caught and bowled chance. Mayank departs for a 21-ball 43. That brings David Miller to the crease.  Krunal finishes with figures of two for 43. KXIP 121/2 after 14 overs.

◘ McClenaghan replaces Markande who was expensive in his first over. Rahul is still looking for that one big shot to release the shackles. Mayank, at the other end, is farming the strike nicely and a maximum over long-on off Krunal Pandya has made his intentions clear. Mayank looking to be the aggressor. KXIP 103/1 after 12 overs.

◘ Two Karnataka batsmen joining hands to bail Punjab out of trouble. Mayank has looked in good touch thus far, collecting two boundaries each off Krunal and leg-spinner Mayank Markande. KL continues to struggle for runs. He needs to make this start count. Mayank is playing a gem here. Krunal has been expensive so far, going for 19 in his first two. KXIP  84/1 after 10 overs.

◘ Hardik Pandya, right-arm fast medium, is taken to the cleaners by Gayle, two successive sixes providing Punjab with the needed thrust. But elder brother Krunal takes his revenge, the left-arm spinner has the big-hitting West Indian caught by brother Hardik at long-on. Mayank Agarwal is the new man in. KXIP 61/1 after 8 overs.

 

 

◘ Gayle getting into his stride now. Two boundaries off Malinga — a straight drive followed by a punch through cover-point — sees Punjab up the ante after a cautious start. Bumrah bowls an excellent second over, going for just two as Punjab reaches 38 at the end of the Powerplay. KXIP 38/0 after 6 overs.

◘ Chris Gayle gets to 300 IPL sixes with two back-to-back maximums off McClenaghan, collecting 15 off the Kiwi seamer's second over. Rahul, meanwhile, gathers a boundary off Jasprit Bumrah's first over. MI 27/0 after 4 overs

 

◘ McClenaghan bowls fight tight deliveries but a short ball outside off is ramped by Gayle over third-man for four. Malinga, on the other hand, keeps the Caribbean giant quiet conceding just three. A cautious start from the Punjab openers. Calm before the storm? KXIP 8/0 after 2 overs.

Chris Gayle and KL Rahul to begin the chase, Mitchell McClenaghan to start proceedings.

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Mumbai started solidly with Rohit Sharma and de Kock putting on a 50-run opening stand before the latter was trapped in front. But that did not deter de Kock who brought up his 1000th IPL run and subsequently a half-century with a boundary off M. Ashwin. The South African's dismissal, however, slowed things down before Krunal Pandya's 18-ball 31 pushed Mumbai to 176. KXIP needs 177 to win.

◘ Mumbai losing the plot here. Pollard skies one over long-off and is caught expertly by Mayank Agarwal near the ropes. Tye once again proving why he is such a valuable asset at the death, his last two overs going for just 14. MI 154/5 after 18 overs.

◘ Murugan Ashwin has Yuvraj Singh caught in the deep, and Punjab is fighting back here. The ace all-rounder falls for 18 off 22 balls. That brings Hardik Pandya to the crease. His cameo against RCB the other night helped Mumbai to an eventually winning total. Tye bowls a fine third over, conceding just six. M. Ashwin finishes with figures of two from 25 from his four.   MI 137/4 after 16 overs.

◘ That should give Shami some breathing space. After being tonked over deep square leg for six, Shami traps de Kock in front. The batsman reviews it but replays show the ball hitting the stumps and Punjab has a much needed breakthrough. Shami breaks the 50-run stand. MI 120/3 after 13 overs.

◘ Yuvraj takes on AJ Tye, first with a one-handed drive over extra cover and then with a delectable straight drive as Mumbai brings up its 100 in the 11th over.De Kock brings up his half-century with a boundary off Murugan Ashwin. Ominous signs these for Punjab. With the likes of Pollard and the Pandya brothers waiting in the ranks, MI will be hoping for a target close to 200. MI 110/2 after 12 overs.

◘ De Kock going strong at the other end; hits two consecutive boundaries off Murugan Ashwin who concedes nine off his second over. No respite for Shami in his second spell as the South African keeper-batsman gets stuck into him, swivelling a pull over deep backward square leg. 11 runs off his second over. MI 87/2 after 10 overs.

WICKET! Murugan Ashwin, who is replacing Varun Chakravarthy, strikes with the second off his first over, gets Suryakumar out lbw. Yuvraj Singh the new batsman in.  Meanwhile, de Kock brings up his 1000th IPL run with a boundary off Ashwin, who has now bowled three overs for 22. MI 71/2 after 8 overs.

◘ Viljoen gets the breakthrough, traps Rohit in front with an in-dipper and Mumbai has lost its first wicket. OH DEAR! Replays show the ball missing the stumps. Rohit should have reviewed that ! Meanwhile, new man Suryakumar Yadav hammers two back-to-back fours off Viljoen.

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Viljoen got rid of Rohit Sharma (not in the picture).
 

Earlier, Andrew Tye, right-arm medium pacer, was introduced inside the powerplay. Ashwin doesn't want the MI openers to get used to a certain bowler/s; smart thinking. The Australian, however, failed to impress, giving away three boundaries to Rohit. 15 runs off Tye's first over. MI 62/1 after 6 overs.

◘ Ashwin nearly had his man; de Kock's sweep escapes the stretched hands of Viljoen at square leg and runs away for four. The ace off-spinner has barely given any air to the batsmen so far but both Rohit and de Kock like the ball coming onto the bat, and will be eyeing the seamers. Hardus Viljoen, right-arm fast medium, has replaced Shami. The Protean wraps up a tight first over with a conceding just seven. MI 35/0 after 4 overs.

◘ Ravichandran Ashwin opens the attack on a pacer-friendly pitch. The off-spinner is keeping it slow and straight, inviting Rohit to go after him. Five tight deliveries followed by a boundary off the last ball; de Kock using soft hands to guide the ball past slip.  Hang on! Looks like we just had a seven-ball over.  Mohammed Shami, at the other end, has been taken for runs straightaway with Rohit collecting 13 runs off the over thanks to two classy boundaries. MI 20/2 after 2 overs

 

Rohit Sharma, Quinton de Kock to open for Mumbai; Ashwin with the new ball.

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TOSS UPDATE: Kings XI Punjab has won the toss and opted to field.

Rohit: "We would have batted first anyway, so not really fussed. Having said that, we need to play good cricket. We were able to win our last game due to the bowling we had and it's about putting enough runs on the board for them."

Ashwin: "We will be bowling first. We want to make conditions in the daylight and make use of the easier batting conditions later on when there could be some grease. Murugan Ashwin comes in for Varun."

Mumbai Indians (Playing XI): Quinton de Kock(w), Rohit Sharma(c), Suryakumar Yadav, Yuvraj Singh, Kieron Pollard, Hardik Pandya, Krunal Pandya, Mitchell McClenaghan, Mayank Markande, Jasprit Bumrah, Lasith Malinga

Kings XI Punjab (Playing XI): Lokesh Rahul(w), Chris Gayle, Mayank Agarwal, Sarfaraz Khan, David Miller, Mandeep Singh, Hardus Viljoen, Ravichandran Ashwin(c), Murugan Ashwin, Mohammed Shami, Andrew Tye

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Who will have the last laugh?
 

PITCH REPORT: "There's always a covering of grass on this wicket. We are looking at an average first-innings score of 169. Kings XI will rely on Andrew Tye, who with his variations, could cause trouble. There have been totals in excess of 200 as well; the wicket looks magnificent and there will be no dew," says Michael Slater.

 

Andrew Tye: "Coming to India with the Australian team gave me a chance to get into the groove going into the tournament (IPL). I am not scared of trying different things. I watch a lot of footage and try to figure what other bowlers are doing and then experiment with it myself."

 

◘ Mumbai Indians had thumped RCB by six runs at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru on Thursday. But the drama that the last ball carried with it enraged RCB players and its skipper Virat Kohli| Kohli left fuming over Malinga no-ball howler

 

Mumbai edged past Royal Challengers Bangalore by six runs in its IPL clash on Thursday night and Sharma was lavish in his praise for Bumrah, who picked up three wickets. Can the pace spearhead keep Mayank Agarwal quiet?

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Can Bumrah's searing yorkers keep Mayank Agarwal's attacking instincts at bay?
 

Just two games each into the 12th season of the IPL, both teams have already made news for more than their performances with ball and bat respectively.

For a better picture, read our reporter Uthra Ganesan's match preview:
Ravichandran Ashwin  and  Rohit Sharma  are considered two of the sharpest minds in Indian cricket.

Just two games each into the 12th season of the IPL, they have already made news for more than their performances with ball and bat respectively.

A face-off at the PCA Stadium on Saturday would be an exciting clash of captaincy as much as it would be of explosive power on either side.

Kings XI Punjab has its task cut out. Chris Gayle has been imperious, as only he can be, but he needs time to take off.

READ:  Sanction unlikely for Ravi, Nandan as only 11 Indian umpires for IPL posting

There have been handy cameos from  Sarfaraz Khan, David Miller  and  Mandeep Singh  even as  K.L. Rahul  continues his search for runs.

They would be up against the likes of Jasprit Bumrah and Lasith Malinga, the former clearly the best in the world right now and the latter a master of the shortest format.

READ:  RCB vs MI: Bumrah brilliance, umpire howler hand Mumbai nervy win

KXIP’s bowling too hasn’t been exceptional but with the pitch likely to be dry and slow, the spinners led by Ashwin can hope for a better outing.

They will have to try and strike early, though. Yuvraj Singh’s stroking and hitting has been vintage so far.

He would also want to set the record straight against his former side, with whom he had a miserable outing last year. With Rohit Sharma,  Hardik Pandya  and  Kieron Pollard  in the mix, KXIP would need its bowlers to be smart and accurate.

Controversies have marred both the teams' lone win. If Ashwin was slammed for Mankading Jos Buttler when the latter threatened to take the game away, Sharma was the beneficiary of massive umpiring error when Lasith Malinga’s no-ball off the last delivery on Thursday night against RCB went unnoticed.

Those few centimetres became the difference between a second loss and the first win for the three-time champion.

Punjab won all three matches played here in 2018, with Gayle scoring an unbeaten 104 in the last game. The host would be hoping he continues from where he left.

 

The match will be streamed live on Hotstar.

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