Deprive Kings XI Punjab of maiden title with three-wicket win. PHOTO: FILE
The outcome of the match was uncertain until Piyush Chawla’s winning strike to the boundary on the third ball of the last over denied Kings XI Punjab their maiden title.
Set a target of 200, Kolkata stumbled in the very first over, with reliable opener Robin Uthappa being dismissed for only five runs. The innings was steadier from there onwards, with Manish Pandey accumulating 94 off 50 and Yusuf Pathan contributing the second-best score of 36 runs.
However, Kolkata began losing wickets as the contest drew to a close, and after giving away seven, it was up to the tail-enders to muster their wits and keep pressure at bay. Chawla’s last boundary sealed the win for Kolkata with three balls to spare.
“I’m very optimistic, and I love to play the crunch game,” said man-of-the-match Pandey. “We got 10 [runs] in the first over, and I thought, if we kept doing that, we’ll get to 200.”
Earlier, Punjab were sent in to bat first and veteran Virender Sehwag was the first one to return to the pavilion with only seven runs to his name. It was left to Manan Vohra (67) and Wriddhiman Saha to hold the fort the team.
Saha did Punjab proud with his unbeaten 115 off 55, but in the end the brilliant knock went in vain and the batsman had to contend with the most-sixes-of-the-match (eight) award.
Meanwhile, Punjab’s Glenn Maxwell was named the player of the tournament for the most sixes (36) struck in the entire season.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 2nd, 2014.
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