Manan Vohra- Virender Sehwag show sinks Northern Knights
The home team, that had won their previous two matches while chasing, got off to a blistering start thanks to Vohra.
Man-of-the-match Vohra plays a cover drive on his way to 32-ball-65. (Source: PTI)
As a batsman, it is hard to steal your share of the limelight when Virender Sehwag is batting at the other end. On Friday, though, young Manan Vohra completely overshadowed the veteran. And Sehwag didn’t seem to mind it one bit.
Not only did the local boy outscore the senior pro when the two were out in the middle but his blistering 32-ball 65 also more or less sealed Kings XI Punjab’s crushing win over Northern Knights by 120 runs. Sehwag too chipped in with a half-century once Vohra was dismissed, ensuring that the Punjab side registered their third win on a trot, thus inching ever so close to sealing a semi-final berth in their debut CLT20 campaign. Knights won the toss and asked KXIP to bat first.
The home team, that had won their previous two matches while chasing, got off to a blistering start thanks to Vohra, who took the charge and smashed two boundaries off Trent Boult in the opening over. It set the tone for the team. The Kiwi unit were banking on their new-ball bowlers to provide them the breakthrough, but were soon scampering for cover as the KXIP openers, especially Vohra, collared them all over the ground. As the KXIP innings progressed, Vohra grew in confidence with his powerful batting, sending the ball into orbit numerous times.
While Punjab took 29 balls to reach 50, they needed just 21 more balls to cross the 100-mark, which was their first opening century partnership of the tournament. Off the 102-run partnership between Sehwag and Vohra, the latter came up with a dominant display and contributed 65 runs. Even though the run rate never dipped below ten, Ish Sodhi did manage to bring the smiles back in the Knights dugout by sending Vohra back in his second over. Vohra miscued an attempt at a third straight six and holed out at long-on.
Sehwag also fell after completing his fifty as Nothern Knights clawed back into the match. However, some lusty hitting by David Miller and skipper George Bailey ensured the team crossed the 200 mark. In the end, they didn’t even need half that score. Knights were never in the hunt as they were all out for 95 in 15.2 overs. Kane Williamson, their batting mainstay, returned to the dugout after scoring 20 runs.
Brief Scores: Kings XI Punjab: 215 for 5 (Vohra 65, Sehwag 52, Miller 40*) beat Northern Knights: 95 (Karanveer 4-15) by 120 runs
Cobras win thriller
In the first game, Cape Cobras off-spinner Sybrand Engelbrecht emerged the unlikely hero as they kept their hopes of qualifying for the semis alive by beating Barbados Tridents in the Super Over. Needing 12 runs to win, Sybrand bowled a tight over and conceded 10 to send his teammates into raptures. Sybrand had earlier forced a tie when he scored two off the last delivery . Tridents, batting first, overcame the early jitters and posted 174 for 8 in 20 overs. Brief Scores: Barbados Tridents: 174 for 8 (Carter 111*) tied with Cape Cobras: 174 for 5 (Amla 59, Mendis 4-27). Cape Cobras won the one-over eliminator.
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