IPL 2017: KXIP vs GL, Player ratings

Kings XI Punjab came back to winning ways by defeating the Gujarat Lions by 26 runs at Rajkot to move up to fourth place in the standings, pushing the Lions to the bottom. Punjab were sent into bat first by GL skipper Suresh Raina and lost Manan Vohra early but Hashim Amla and Shaun Marsh brought momentum into the batting through their 48-ball partnership of 70.

After Marsh’s departure, skipper Glenn Maxwell came in to join Amla at the crease, who reached to a second successive score of 50+. However, both Amla and Maxwell departed after scoring 65 and 31 respectively. At this point, a 17-ball 34 from Axar Patel assisted by a five-ball cameo of 10 from Wriddhiman Saha, took KXIP to a total of 188/7 from their 20 overs.

In reply, GL lost openers Aaron Finch and Brendon McCullum went back early but Suresh Raina and Dinesh Karthik restored the innings. However, after Raina’s departure, the Gujarat middle-order kept giving away their wickets, leaving Dinesh Karthik with no one to assist him.

Karthik found some assistance from Andrew Tye who hit some big shots before being dismissed for 21. GL eventually fell short by 26 runs as Dinesh Karthik ended his innings on 58 from 44 deliveries.

Hashim Amla was adjudged the Man of the Match for his knock of 65 as Kings XI Punjab keep their play-off hopes while Gujarat Lions are only three losses away from elimination. Having said that, here are the player ratings for today’s match.

Kings XI Punjab

Manan Vohra - 2/10

Had a disastrous evening personally as he was dismissed for 2 after edging a Nathu Singh delivery towards Brendon McCullum who held on to it.

Hashim Amla- 9/10

Continued his wonderful form from the last game against Mumbai Indians as he scored a sensational knock of 65 from 40 deliveries in an innings that included nine fours and two sixes. His purple patch in the tournament continues as he is the current holder of the orange cap with 299 runs at an average of 59.80 and a strike rate of 145.85.

Shaun Marsh- 6.5/10

Began his innings slowly but showed some aggressive intent during the end of his innings. Assisted Hashim Amla during the first half of the innings by building a partnership of 70 from 48 deliveries. Was dismissed by Andrew Tye for 30 off 24 deliveries.

Glenn Maxwell- 7/10

Played an aggressive innings of 31 from 18 deliveries, hitting a boundary and three sixes. Led well throughout the run-chase and pulled off a sensational and well-balanced catch near the boundary line to dismiss Suresh Raina.

Marcus Stoinis - 5/10

Was disappointing with the bat as he got dismissed for just 7 from 9 deliveries and bowled only one over with the ball, conceding 12 runs. He did some damage-control by taking the catches to dismiss Dwayne Smith and Aaron Finch.

Axar Patel - 8/10

Axar Patel impressed with both bat and ball

Was one of the finest players of the evening by his splendid performance with both bat and ball. His pinch-hitting in the death overs helped KXIP to 188 and scored 34 from 17 deliveries. He was a little expensive with the ball but picked up the key wickets of Raina and Smith.

Wriddhiman Saha - 5/10

Came in to bat very low at No.7 but chipped in with a 5-ball 10. Did not contribute very much in the field but was decent behind the stumps.

Mohit Sharma - 7/10

Chipped in with four runs in the final couple of deliveries of the innings and was pretty economical with the ball as he conceded only 25 runs from his four overs, picking up the wicket of Aaron Finch.

KC Cariappa- 7/10

Bowled a brilliant and economical spell as he conceded only 24 runs from his four overs, picking up the wickets of Ravindra Jadeja and Ankush Nath.

T Natarajan- 4/10

Was hit for a six by Aaron Finch during his first over but bowled better in his following two overs, ending with figures of 0/22 from his three.

Sandeep Sharma- 6/10

Was a little expensive with the ball as he conceded 40 runs from his four overs but took the key wicket of Brendon McCullum before following it by dismissing Andrew Tye during the 17^th over

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Gujarat Lions

Suresh Raina tried his best but couldn’t drag his team to a second consecutive win

Brendon McCullum- 4/10

Took a catch at long-off to dismiss Marcus Stoinis during the 18^th over. However, he disappointed with the bat as he was dismissed for just 6 by Sandeep Sharma.

Aaron Finch- 6/10

Was decent on the field as he took a fine running catch to dismiss the dangerous Axar Patel after stopping a possible boundary from Andrew Tye. Hit a six with the bat but could not stay for long as he was dismissed for 13.

Suresh Raina- 7/10

Took a simple catch to break the partnership between Amla and Marsh to dismiss the latter. He conceded only six off his only over. Was looking dangerous with the bat before being dismissed for 32 off 24 deliveries. His dismissal triggered a downfall in the middle order.

Dinesh Karthik- 8/10

Dinesh Karthik’s 58 went in vain

Took a brilliant diving catch to dismiss Manan Vohra early. Was the best Gujarat batsman of the day as in the end, he was left fighting alone with very little assistance from his other batsmen. He ended scoring 58 off 44 deliveries.

Ravindra Jadeja- 5/10

Received some hitting from Amla and did not look in his best form with the ball. However, he took the wicket of Maxwell. Did not contribute with the bat when he needed to as he was for just 9.

Dwayne Smith- 2/10

Was disastrous with both ball and bat and was one of the worst players of the night. He conceded 18 runs off his only over and flopped with the bat as he was dismissed for just 4.

Akshdeep Nath- 0/10

Was bowled for a duck off his first ball.

Andrew Tye- 7/10

Was a little expensive with the ball but took the wickets of Shaun Marsh and Marcus Stoinis. He looked dangerous with the bat as he hit a couple of big shots before perishing in the 17^th over.

Basil Thampi- 3/10

Batted better than he bowled. Was highly expensive with the ball, going for 44 runs in his four overs. Scored 11 runs with the bat at the end of the innings but it was too little too late by then.

Shubham Agarwal- 2/10

Did not have the best of debuts as he conceded 42 runs in his four overs. However, he took the big wicket of Hashim Amla in the 14^th over.

Nathu Singh- 6/10

The Gujarat Lions made a big mistake by not using him during the death overs as he would have lowered the KXIP total. He bowled brilliantly during his first two overs, conceding only 7 runs and picking up the early wicket of Manan Vohra.