Indian Premier League: Bailey credits bowlers for Punjab triumph
Delhi skipper Pietersen rues posting a low target.
Manan Vohra scored 47 runs off 38 deliveries to play a pivotal role in Punjab’s victory. PHOTO: BCCI
Kings XI Punjab Captain George Bailey hailed his bowlers’ performance as they restricted Delhi Daredevils to a low total of 115 to win the match by seven wickets in Mohali.
“The way [Parvider] Awana and Mitchell [Johnson] bowled, that set the tone,” said Bailey.
Bailey also revealed his strategy to follow the basics for the business end of the tournament.
“We’ll go back to basics now. It doesn’t matter what order you finish. Everyone starts from zero come finals time”.
Earlier in their chase, Virender Sehwag and man-of-the-match Manan Vohra opened the innings for Punjab but Sehwag (9) couldn’t last long and was sent back to the pavilion by Mohammad Shami.
Vohra was then accompanied by big-hitting Glenn Maxwell who didn’t look in great form and was accounted by Jaydev Unadkat after playing three balls for a duck.
David Miller joined the cause with Vohra and they both carried Punjab’s innings to the winning verge but Vohra, after he scored a 38-ball 47, was bowled by Imran Tahir with only three runs remaining.
The skipper George Bailey walked in to face a single ball and rotate the strike, while a massive six by Miller sealed the victory for Punjab.
Kevin Pietersen was the only batsman who looked at ease against the Punjab bowlers as he scored 58 from 41 balls to help Delhi post a 115-run target. Except him, only two batsmen were able to enter the double figures.
He forwarded his apologies to Delhi fans while lamenting his team’s worst batting performance in this season.
“We batted poorly, and shouldn’t have posted such a low total on this pitch,” said Pietersen.
“It’s been an enjoyable experience, but on the field there’s been a lot of problems.”
Published in The Express Tribune, May 26th, 2014.