KEY HIGHLIGHTS
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On Monday (October 26), the resurgent KL Rahul-led Kings XI Punjab (KXIP) locked horns with inconsistent Eoin Morgan-led Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in match 46 of the ongoing IPL 2020 edition in Sharjah.
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With both teams in desperate need of a win as the playoff battle intensifies, it was another emphatic performance from KXIP as they romped past the two-time winners to win by 8 wickets.
Opting to bowl first in Sharjah, Rahul & Co. were rewarded soon as the likes of Nitish Rana, Dinesh Karthik and Rahul Tripathy perished quickly.
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While Rana got out off Glenn Maxwell in the first over itself, Tripathy and Karthik were troubled by Mohammed Shami’s seam and movement with the new ball.
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Being reduced to 10 for 3 in no time, KKR were dependent on their captain Eoin Morgan and youngster Shubman Gill.
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Gill and Morgan did take some time but started the counterattack effortlessly. While Gill was brave enough to take on Shami, Morgan also accelerated to keep the scoreboard ticking. Soon, KKR were progressing at a good run-rate, near 10, but Morgan’s fall changed the complexion of the game.
CRED Power Player of Match 46 between @KKRiders and @lionsdenkxip is Shubman Gill.@CRED_club #CREDPowerplay #Dream11IPL pic.twitter.com/k9Yk31qjEC
— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) October 26, 2020
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Ravi Bishnoi — who has accounted for some key wickets in this season so far — removed the KKR skipper for a 25-ball 40 as Gill soon ran out of partners.
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Chris Jordan pushed KKR on the back foot with his twin strikes as Gill’s 57 and a late flourish from Lockie Ferguson took KKR to 149-9 in 20 overs.
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In reply, KXIP started on a positive note. India’s newly-appointed limited-overs vice-captain KL Rahul was on song whereas he got good company from Mandeep Singh.
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Against the run of play, Varun Chakvarathy — who got a maiden India call-up for Australia T20Is — removed in-form opener Rahul for 28.
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Nonetheless, KXIP didn’t make the same mistakes which they had made in their earlier face-off with KKR. Chris Gayle came in at No. 3 and switched gears effortlessly, slamming Sunil Narine and Chakravarthy with ease.
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Mandeep, on the other hand, continued to find gaps as Punjab moved ahead in the run-chase without dropping much sweat.
Dream11 GameChanger of Match 46 between @KKRiders and @lionsdenkxip is Mandeep Singh. @Dream11 #YeApnaGameHai #Dream11IPL pic.twitter.com/16AjlIHuKu
— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) October 26, 2020
United diagnosticss
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Despite losing Gayle for a 28-ball 51, KXIP went ahead by 8 wickets to take the fourth spot with five wins on the trot.
The Universe Boss is adjudged the Man of the Match for his quickfire half-century 🔥🔥#Dream11IPL #KKRvKXIP pic.twitter.com/ttt2ZGSHqS
— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) October 26, 2020
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Meanwhile, KKR are now out of the top four and will have to play really well, and also depend on net run-rate, to progress ahead in the ongoing competition.
Half-centuries from Gayle (51) and Mandeep (66*) guide @lionsdenkxip to an 8-wicket win over #KKR
Scorecard – https://t.co/Ye2Tx7iO5Z #Dream11IPL pic.twitter.com/BLL2LAvxsw
— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) October 26, 2020
#KXIP makes its way in the Top 4 in the Points Table after Match 46 of #Dream11IPL pic.twitter.com/PlCAYG6k9R
— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) October 26, 2020
