IPL 2016: Kings XI Punjab beat Rising Pune Supergiants by 6 wickets

Updated: 17 April 2016 19:40 IST - Published: 17 April 2016 00:32 IST

That's it from here, don't forget to catch the live commentary of the second game of the day between Royal Challengers Bangalore and Delhi Daredevils, where the toss is already over. Until the next time, stay safe and have fun.

"Extremely very happy. I was batting very well in the previous games and I wanted to play a match-winning knock. We've (Vijay and I) been playing together from last year and its always nice to bat with him" says Vohra.

Man of the Match is Manan Vohra.

Kings XI Punjab captain David Miller: "It all clicked tonight. We got a good start from the openers and before that the bowlers did really well. Vijay and Voihra have done really well in the past too and credit to them, and Maxi did a great job in the end. Our batting in the middle overs…we still need to think about that and work on it a bit."

Time for the presentation.

Miller and Marsh may not have clicked but Punjab's openers both got fifties and the return to form of Glenn Maxwell is a welcome addition to the Kings XI batting line-up. However, questions will be asked of the performance of the Pune middle-order and how the Indian batsmen performed. More than anything else, people will question how lacking in fire power the Pune bowling attack was.

Maxwell's 14-ball 32 sees Punjab home despite an impressive three-wicket haul by Murugan Ashwin. In the end, Pune's below-par came back to hurt them as fifties from both Punjab openers helped them get off the mark in this year's tournament.

KXIP beat Rising Pune Supergiants by 6 wickets with 8 balls to spare.

18.4 Perera to Maxwell, FOUR! Full and outside off, smashed past the cover fielders. KXIP Win! This almost feels like a throwback for the Punjab side when there was more of the same from Maxwell. If he rediscovers his old form, the whole look and feel of this team will change. That game got tight towards the end, but Maxwell stood up and delivered when it counted most.

18.3 Perera to Maxwell, 2 runs, full delivery, pulled by Maxwell, DROPPED by Ishant at deep fine leg. It wasn't an easy catch but Pune needed that to go to hand.

18.2 Perera to Maxwell, 2 runs, perfect yorker, dug out by Maxwell, overthrows cost them another run.

18.1 Perera to Saha, 1 run, full and on middle stump, worked towards deep square leg.

Maxwell might not have had a great tournament so far but he has delivered today and Punjab are on the verge of a victory. They need 9 runs form the last two overs.

Maxwell 1 - R Ashwin 0. Maxwell 1 - 0 M Ashwin. He's won the battles with both Ashwins, absolutely crucial.

17.6 R Ashwin to Saha, 1 run, full and on leg stump, worked towards short fine leg to retain strike. Game over?

17.5 R Ashwin to Maxwell, 1 run, full delivery, played towards long off. Simple.

Is that the game? Punjab only need 11 from 14 balls now.

17.4 R Ashwin to Maxwell, SIX! Inviting to be hit, that. Loopy half volley, Maxwell was never going to miss out on that. Clears the long on fielder, 108 metres!

17.3 R Ashwin to Maxwell, FOUR! Full and on leg stump, Maxwell sweeps beating the fielders at short & deep fine leg! The fielder was too fine inside the circle and it was expertly placed by Maxwell.

Excellent fielding from Smith. When every run counts, that is exactly what you want from your fielders. Complete commitment.

17.2 R Ashwin to Maxwell, no run, closes the face of the bat on a length ball, well fielded by Smith to prevent a single.

17.1 R Ashwin to Saha, 1 run, on a length outside off, worked towards point.

The scores are level at this stage as far as both sides are concerned and Ravichandran Ashwin comes on to bowl. What can he do? Ashwin-Maxwell battle well and truly on.

16.6 M Ashwin to Maxwell, FOUR! Full, on middle and off, Maxwell plays it inside out this time, clears the fielders in the covers. 2 big, big shots from Maxwell in a pressure situation.

That was just what the doctor ordered for Punjab. Maxwell gets a maximum when Punjab needed it most.

16.5 M Ashwin to Maxwell, SIX! Full, on middle stump, SMASHED! Swept that past deep midwicket. That's Maxwell power!

16.4 M Ashwin to Saha, 1 run, full delivery, worked on the leg side to get off the mark.

16.3 M Ashwin to Maxwell, 1 run, length delivery played towards long on.

Wriddhiman Saha walks out to the crease and Punjab are suddenly in a spot of bother. Murugan Ashwin has brought Pune back into the game.

16.2 M Ashwin to Miller, OUT! Flighted, full, inviting the batsman to clear the boundary. Miller takes the bait! Doesn't get enough contact on that, finds KP at long off. What a spell M Ashwin, take a bow.

16.1 M Ashwin to Maxwell, 1 run, full and on middle stump, worked towards long on.

The required run-rate is close to 9 and Murugan Ashwin comes in to bowl his last over. Glenn Maxwell is on strike and he doesn't fancy leggies, what will happen?

15.6 Perera to Miller, 2 runs, full and outside off, giving him the chance to use his arms, he powers it to Steven Smith at long on.

When you are trying to save every run, a misfield is the last thing you would want. The ball was coming slowly to Ankit Sharma who was already looking up to see where to throw and didn't gather properly and conceded two.

15.5 Perera to Miller, 2 runs, short and outside off, worked towards point, misfielded, that should have been a dot ball. Costly.

15.4 Perera to Maxwell, 1 run, short of a length again but a little too straight this time, giving Maxwell the chance to work it off his body towards deep fine leg.

15.3 Perera to Maxwell, no run, short of a length and on off stump, cramping him again, goof stuff.

15.2 Perera to Maxwell, no run, short of a length but straight, cramping him for room, defended.

15.1 Perera to Miller, 1 run, full and on middle and off, worked towards long off. Great sound off the bat!

41 needed off the last five overs and there are two new batsmen at the crease. Thisara Perera comes on to bowl.

Excellent comeback from M Ashwin. After being hit for a six, he picks up the important wicket of Vijay just before the strategic time-out.

14.6 M Ashwin to Vijay, OUT! Oh what a response, M Ashwin, YOU BEAUTY! This was fuller and outside off, inviting the batsman to cut, Vijay accepts, it collects his outside edge and MS Dhoni behind the stumps collects the ball. What an over this has been. The game is back on. Terrific!

14.5 M Ashwin to Vijay, SIX! Ashwin bowled that short and fired it up, almost like Afridi, Vijay read it, stayed back, and cleared the midwicket boundary with ease to bring up his 50.

14.4 M Ashwin to Miller, 1 run, slow and on a length, worked towards short third man.

14.3 M Ashwin to Vijay, 1 run, full and on his pads, worked away towards deep midwicket.

14.2 M Ashwin to Miller, 1 run, full, flighted outside off, played down to mid off.

Important wicket that was for Pune and that brings David Miller to the crease. Can he pick up another?

14.1 M Ashwin to Marsh, OUT! Beautiful delivery. Length delivery, slow, creeped up on the batsman, Marsh looked to wait and open the face of the bat at the last minute, but it was too late, as the ball crashed into the stumps.

Another tight over and although both scores are neck and neck at this time, you have to think Punjab are favourites.

13.6 R Ashwin to Vijay, no run, full and outside off, worked to extra cover.