IPL matches on Tuesday and Wednesday were high-scoring contests. At Mumbai on Tuesday, a late charge by MI batsmen helped them log their second straight win in two matches. However, having lost the first five, it is still an uphill task for them to finish within the top four. On Wednesday, batting second at the Kotla, KKR replicated their 2-day old batting performance with a difference and got past DD with 10 balls to spare. Later that night, viewers were witness to the Maxwell-aided run-fest, in which KXIP steamrolled the formidable CSK by setting a mammoth 232-run target that proved too hot in the end for the Chennai batsmen.
In Wednesday’s first match, DD opted to bat after winning the toss but lost early wickets to lend the advantage to KKR. First, Quinton de Kock fell to an indiscreet stroke but the most stupid dismissal was reserved for Kevin Pietersen, who pushed forward to a delivery from Shakib Al Hasan and started running. This allowed the wicket-keeper enough time to pick up the ball and shatter the stumps. Murali Vijay and Dinesh Karthik tried to steady the innings but the scoring rate suffered. Until the 16th over, DD had made just 105/5. Thanks to Duminy and Jadhav, the team could reach a respectable 160/5 in the end, which included 29 off Sunil Narine’s last two overs. KKR mounted their chase with the second successive century stand for the first wicket. But this time, Gambhir and Uthappa were in no mood to repeat the miraculous collapse, they suffered against RR, two nights ago. All through the chase, KKR kept themselves ahead with Gambhir looking like his old confident self. Uthappa was unflappable again as an opener and when the two got out by the 18th over, Manish Pandey and Jacques Kallis ensured that KKR surpass DD smoothly with 10 balls left.
In the last game yesterday night, Glenn Maxwell played like he did in the first three matches for KXIP this season, and rightly won himself, the player of the match award in the process. After the toss, CSK chose to allow Punjab the first strike and what a strike it proved to be! After openers Mandeep and Sehwag got out at 38 in 5.2 overs, Maxwell and Miller devastated CSK bowling in making 135 runs in just over 10 overs. Maxwell’s 90 off 38 included 5 fours and 8 sixes while Miller took 32 balls for his 47 with 5 fours and 2 sixes. After Maxwell and Miller got out, Bailey produced a 13-ball 40 that included 6 fours and 2 sixes. With Johnson also chipping in with 10 off 6, KXIP reached 231/4, the highest total this season. Interestingly KXIP’s first 10 overs had produced only 69 runs but the next 10 counted for a whopping 162. With Bailey and Johnson swing their bats, the last 16 balls were banged for 49 runs. CSK had the batting to match the big scores but the target of 232 was a way too daunting. Dwayne Smith got out in the first over and Raina left in the 8th for 35. McCullum carried on with Jadeja but the asking rate kept mounting. Only Faf du Plessis stood out with a knock of 52 off 25 balls. Otherwise, KXIP were always ahead in the race and despite an otherwise nice-looking score of 187/6, CSK fell short off the target and lost by 44 runs in the end.