On Paul position

IPLs new poster boy Valthaty scalps 4,scores 75 and ties Sachin at the top

Acknowledging the many pats on his back while responding with his customary shy smile,Paul Valthaty had just about hurried off the field in order to pad up and return to open Kings XI Punjabs innings,when he was stopped in his tracks for a brief TV interview on the sidelines.

Not yet accustomed to facing the camera on such short notice,despite having experienced the incessant glow of the spotlight over the last week,IPLs latest star clearly seemed hesitant. And asked to speak about his unexpected bowling exploits,he ascertained that he had been indeed lucky to end up with four wickets.

Before leaving,Valthaty though did insist that it was helping his team complete yet another successful chase that was utmost on his mind.

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Valthaty,however,wouldnt have been the only one looking forward to his stint in the middle. Following his stunning century against Chennai Super Kings only four days earlier,there would have been many clamouring up near their TV screens,keenly waiting to see if he does manage to deter his breakthrough performance from ending up as a flash-in-the-pan.

And with the same inconspicuousness that he displayed so immensely at Mohali on Wednesday,Valthaty went onto enhance his reputation further at Uppal on Saturday evening,battering Deccan Chargers hopes of a second consecutive win at their home ground in the esteemed company of his skipper Adam Gilchrist.

The duo added 136 quickfire runs for the opening wicket,as Kings XI Punjab cruised past their decent target of 166 with more than two overs to spare,handing Kumar Sangakkara & Co their third defeat in four matches.

PAUL HAS A BALL

Only last season,Gilchrist and Sangakkara had been in each others shoes. The former Australian wicketkeeper had been incharge of the Chargers,while a beleaguered Punjab had been led by the Sri Lankan. And just when Shikhar Dhawan and Sangakkara were going strong and a wicket required desperately,Gilchrist turned to IPLs latest poster boy. And Valthaty proved his captain right with just his fifth ball,getting rid of Dhawan,caught at short fine-leg.

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Barely medium-pace but armed with variations,the King with the Midas Touch continued his magic,picking up three more wickets,finishing up with figures of 4/29 and playing a major role in restricting Deccans surge.

TAG-TEAM FINISHER

While Valthaty got to dominate alone at Mohali,this time he found an illustrious partner to share the limelight with. Preferring to watch his younger partner do the damage in the early going,Gilchrist suddenly exploded into action with a flurry of boundaries,before smashing Daniel Christian for the longest six of the tournament.

And by the time he walked off the field after being dismissed for a 46-ball 61 to a rapturous ovation from his former home crowd in a venue where he never managed to win a match for the Deccan Chargers,the Australian had all but handed his team a comprehensive win.

It was Valthatys sequel,however,which took the cake in the end. Two consecutive wins for Punjab,two in two for Valthaty.