Maxwell continues to max it out

Batsman guides Kings XI to third consecutive IPL win.

Glenn Maxwell is simply unstoppable at the seventh edition of the Indian Premier League; the Australian big-hitter produced a third consecutive display of incredible stroke play to help Kings XI Punjab overwhelm Sunrisers Hyderabad by 72 runs at the Sharjah stadium.

After his sensational 43-ball 95, the batsman claimed he was happy to come close to a century for the third time in the running.

“The wicket was a little different tonight,” he said, after winning the man-of-the-match award. “I was a bit lucky. At least this time I did not get out when we were chasing. I want to score for the team.”

Maxwell was the top scorer for his team by a distance as they amassed 193 for six in the allotted 20 overs.

The Australian struck nine sixes in the blistering knock, as other than Bhuveneshwar Kumar, with figures of three for 19, there was no one to challenge Maxwell.

In reply, the Hyderabad batsmen found the tough run-rate difficult to manage from the outset. The opening pair of Shikhar Dhawan and Aaron Finch fell cheaply. The rest of the batsmen were also found wanting under the lights.

Wicket-keeper batsman Lokesh Rahul was the top scorer for his team with 27 at run-a-ball; his innings included a solitary six and a four.

Lakshmipathy Balaji was the best bowler for his team; the pacer took four wickets conceding only 13 runs in his four over spell.

Mitchell Johnson and Akshar Patel took two wickets each.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 24^th, 2014.

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