IPL 2017 | Axar Patel’s all-round effort keeps KXIP in play-off contention

Axar Patel’s lion-hearted all- round effort helped Kings XI Punjab stay in the hunt for a play-off berth with a resounding 19-run victory over Royal Challengers Bangalore in an IPL encounter, here tonight.

First, the India discard smashed his way to an unbeaten 38 off 17 balls as Kings XI Punjab managed 138 for 7 and then grabbed 3/11 in in 3 overs with RCB skittled out for 119 in 19 overs. This was the lowest total defended by a team at the Chinnaswamy Stadium and also the first time in 10 editions that RCB has been bowled out four times. New ball bowler Sandeep Sharma (3/22 in 4 overs) played a big role blowing away the top-order to set up the win.

Mohit Sharma (2/24), Axar, Glenn Maxwell (2/14) all played their parts to perfection in KXIP’s fifth win of the season. Kings XI Punjab now has 10 points from 10 games while RCB after their ninth defeat in 12 matches stay at the bottom on five points. With confidence torn to shreds and self belief in tatters, RCB looked like a rag-tag unit with no stomach for a fight. It seemed as if the team is just turning up …read more