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Royal Challengers Bangalore v Kings XI Punjab – Indian Premier League 5 – Match Recap – Kings XI snatch narrow 4-wicket victory

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Royal Challengers Bangalore v Kings XI Punjab – Indian Premier League 5 – Match Recap – Kings XI snatch narrow 4-wicket victory
The Kings XI Punjab found themselves propelled to the top four on the points table after securing a narrow 4-wicket victory with one ball remaining over the Royal Challengers Bangalore, at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium on May 2.
The visitors won the toss and stand-in skipper David Hussey elected to field. The Challengers opened their innings with Mayank Agarwal (7) and Chris Gayle (71), and after the former’s abrupt departure in the second over off Ryan Harris, Virat Kohli (45)
stepped up to the crease, displaying a welcome return to form.
Gayle and Kohli joined forces for a mammoth 119-run 2nd wicket stand, which saw their side to 126 by the 16th over. Azhar Mahmood, the Kings XI’s top wicket-taker for the match, stepped in to eliminate the growing threat of Gayle, who
top-edged a short delivery towards deep square leg and was caught out by David Miller. Kohli followed suit in the next over, bowled out by Piyush Chawla, and was succeeded by AB de Villiers.
Mahmood, however, did not allow the batsmen to settle in at the crease, conceding just 4 in the last over. The seasoned campaigner ended De Villiers (17) and Andrew McDonald’s (9) 20-run stand, taking out the explosive duo in the space of three deliveries,
while further restricting Asad Pathan (2) and Saurabh Tiwary (1) -  as the hosts posted a total of 158 on the board.
Mahmood remained the top wicket-taker for his side with 3 scalps for 20 runs to his name, while Chawla and Harris picked up one wicket each. Hussey and Praveen Kumar, despite having zero scalps to their name, were highly effective in restricting the run
flow, with the former conceding only 9 runs in 2 overs, while the latter gave away just 8 in 4 overs, registering an impressive economy rate of 2.00.
The 159 target was achievable and the Kings XI got off to a solid start, with openers Mandeep Singh (43) and Shaun Marsh (8) establishing a 38-run stand, after which the Aussie batsman was clean bowled by McDonald.
The next notable partnership was between wicketkeeper batsman Nitin Saini (50) and Hussey (45), both of whom put their team on solid ground with a combined contribution of 73 runs. By the 17th over, the Kings XI were at a safe position, with 146
runs on the board, but a series of three abrupt run outs put the visitors in jeopardy.
After Saini’s dismissal, courtesy McDonald, Azhar Mahmood stepped up to the crease, but only managed 2 runs before he was caught short of his crease while attempting to go back for a second. Two run-outs followed in the very next over – Hussey, and then
Abhishek Nayar (2) – leaving the Kings XI at 154 for 6 in the 19th over.
Paras Dogra (3) and Chawla (6) were at the crease with 5 runs required off the last over, which later went down to 5 off 4 balls. Dogra managed 3 of the next two deliveries, and Chawla hit a six off the second last delivery, bringing his side up to 163,
and saving the team from what had seemed to be a lost game, despite the Kings XI’s promising start.
The Player of the Match award went to Mahmood for his 3-wicket haul, and the Kings XI found themselves lifted up to the fourth spot on the points table, with 5 out of 10 wins to their credit.
Their next chance to improve their rankings will be against the Rajasthan Royals at Mohali on May 5, while the Challengers, currently at number 6 on the points table, will be facing off against the Deccan Chargers on May 6.