Kings XI Punjab Online Tickets at BookMyShow KXIP falling foul, Kings XI Punjab Online Tickets at BookMyShow KXIP falling foul.NEW DELHI: Gujarat Lions, in their first season in the IPL, are proving the team to beat. Twice in four days, Delhi Daredevils and Rising Pune Supergiants have come down to one ball needed to try and stop Suresh Raina's team, but failed. Two thrilling last-ball wins have not only pushed Gujarat to the top of the IPL leaderboard with 12 points from seven matches, but showed that they're not about to throw the towel in.
Over 20 | Score 131/9 (Kulkarni 6*, Kaushik 0*)
Sandeep to bowl the final over, Lions need 30 off 6. Faulkner hit the first ball straight down the ground towards long-on and refused to take the single, much to the dismay of Dhawal Kulkarni. Sandeep followed it with a low full-toss and Faulkner hit it straight to the fielder at long-on. Kaushik is the new man in. Dhawal Kulkarni worked the third ball towards long-off and refused the single. Dhawal was offered width off the fourth ball and he cheekily played it past the keeper for a couple of runs. Dhawal cut the fifth ball past point for another couple of runs. Dhawal drove the last ball towards wide of long-off for another couple of runs. That's it, KXIP win the match by 23 runs.
Gujarat Lions
Pravin Tambe sat out on Friday, with 29-year-old chinaman spinner Shivil Kaushik making his debut in T20 cricket. The rookie should have had a wicket with his 12th delivery, except he overstepped, and the subsequent free hit was hit for six. There may be the temptation to bring back Tambe, unless the Lions management wants to instill confidence in young Kaushik.
Probable XI: 1 Dwayne Smith, 2 Brendon McCullum, 3 Suresh Raina (capt), 4 Dinesh Karthik (wk), 5 Ravindra Jadeja, 6 Dwayne Bravo, 7 Ishan Kistan, 8 James Faulkner, 9 Praveen Kumar, 10 Dhawal Kulkarni, 11 Pravin Tambe/Shivil Kaushik
Kings XI Punjab
Pardeep Sahu conceded 35 in three wicketless over in the previous game, and looks the likeliest to be dropped. Anureet Singh, KXIP's most successful pace bowler last season, could at last get a game unless the management punts on Shardul Thakur. Could there be a return for Wriddhiman Saha too, as wicketkeeper in place of young Nikhil Naik? Miller's wretched run as the team captain has coincided with a poor form with the bat. Since he is no more the skipper, will he be able to keep his place in the playing XI?
Over 18 | Score 118/7 (Faulkner 31*, Kumar 9*)
Stoinis to bowl his final over, Lions need 49 off 18 balls. He started with a short ball and Praveen could only score a single off it. Second ball was a low full-toss, Faulkner hammered it towards deep midwicket, where Maxwell dived in front to take the catch, his judgement wasn't right and the ball went for a boundary. Faulkner scored a single off the next ball. Stoinis bowled a wide full-toss to Praveen, who cheekily worked it past third man for a boundary. Praveen flicked the next ball towards deep fine leg for a single. Faulkner attempted a big slog-sweep off the last ball, didn't connect and they ran a bye as Saha failed to collect the ball cleanly. 12 from the over.
Over 17 | Score 106/7 (Faulkner 26*, Kumar 3*)
Sandeep Sharma to bowl his final over, 56 needed off 24. Despite conceding a boundary off the last ball, it was still an excellent over from Sandeep where he conceded just seven runs.
Over 16 | Score 99/7 (Faulkner 21*, Kumar 1*)
Mohit is back, Lions need 68 from 30 balls. He started with a length ball and Faulkner smashed it over the bowler's head for a boundary. Next ball was a slower delivery and Faulkner hit it straight down the ground for a couple of runs. Faulkner cut the third ball past point for another couple of runs. Next ball was banged short and Faulkner worked it towards deep midwicket, just for a single though. Kumar on strike. Praveen worked the next ball towards point for a single. Faulkner scored a couple of runs off the last ball. 12 from the over.
Over 15 | Score 87/7 (Faulkner 10*, Kumar 0*)
Stoinis to bowl his third over. 73 needed off 36 balls. Four singles came off the first four balls after which Ishan was unfortunately run-out. Praveen Kumar is the new man in.
