IPL: 3 memorable clashes between RCB and KXIP at Chinnaswamy Stadium

#1 Adam Gilchrist and Azhar Mahmood script a famous win for Punjab – 2013

Captain of Kings XI Punjab, Adam Gilchrist won the toss and elected to field first on a humid afternoon in Bangalore. Royal Challengers got off to a slow start and they could only manage 31 runs in the mandatory power-play losing the solitary wicket of Cheteshwar Pujara.

However, the pair of Virat Kohli and Chris Gayle took the responsibility and ensured no further damage was done. The pair milked the Punjab bowlers and the team score reached 52/1 by the halfway mark. Post the halfway mark, the pair decided to cut-loose they started attacking the Punjab bowlers scoring more than 10 per over.

Chris Gayle smashed 3 gigantic sixes of Manpreet Gony in the 15th over and reached his half-century in 40 deliveries. On the other end, Virat Kohli stepped up a gear and reached his half-century in the 17th over. The pair added a mammoth 136 runs for the 2nd wicket before Chris Gayle was dismissed in the penultimate over. In the end, the men in red put up an above par score of 174/5 in the allocated 20 overs thanks to Chris Gayle’s 77 of 53 deliveries and Virat Kohli’s 57 of 43 deliveries. Parwinder Awana picked up 3 wickets, while Azhar Mahmood picked up 2 wickets for 24 runs in 4 overs.

Chasing a solid total of 175, Kings XI Punjab lost Shaun Marsh in the 3 over after he was clean bowled by Zaheer Khan for 8. Azhar Mahmood walked out to the crease and him along with captain Adam Gilchrist took up the responsibility of chasing down the target.

The pair scored runs at ease smashing boundaries at will. Adam Gilchrist was at his best showcasing his masterful stroke play and there was no answer from the Bangalore bowlers. He effortlessly cut and pull the fast bowlers, giving a glimpse of his glory days. Veteran all-rounder Azhar Mahmood took on the likes of Moises Henriques, Jaydev Unadat, and Vinay Kumar by smashing them for boundaries all over the Chinnaswamy stadium. The pair added 118 runs for the 2nd wicket and it turned out to be a match-winning partnership. The pair was separated in the 16th over, when Azhar Mahmood handed over a catch to AB de Villiers of the bowling of Jaydev Unadkat for a well made 61 of 41 deliveries.

The most notable factor was how effortlessly both the pair scored runs of Muttiah Muralidaran. The legendary off-spinner was the most expensive bowler conceding 44 runs in his 4 overs and a solitary wicket of David Miller later in the innings.

Adam Gilchrist carried his bat throughout the innings scoring a brilliant 85 of 54 deliveries with 10 boundaries and 3 hits over the fence. Kings XI Punjab reached the target with 11 balls to spare and for playing a Captain’s knock Adam Gilchrist was rightly awarded Man of the Match.