Kings XI Punjab vs. Hobart Hurricanes, CLT20: Scorecard and Report
Kings XI Punjab opened their 2014 Champions League Twenty20 campaign with a five-wicket victory over Hobart Hurricanes.
After putting the 2013–14 Big Bash League runners-up into bat, Kings XI restricted the Australians to 144-6 in their 20 overs at the Punjab Cricket Association Stadium.
The Indian Premier League finalists then sent the home fans into raptures by polishing off the total with 14 balls to spare in the opening Group B match of the sixth edition of the event.
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"Hobart Hurricanes(144/6) vs Punjab,, 146 / 5 in 17.4 overs - RR 8.19, Punjab won by 5 wickets. Full scorecard http://t.co/fygxHEcAqc
— vcricket IPL Punjab (@IPLPunjab) September 18, 2014"
The Tasmanian side saw four batsmen get into the twenties but none kicked on to make a big score.
Travis Birt and Jonathan Wells both made 28 and shared a 52-run fifth wicket partnership in 31 balls, with the latter hitting two of the three sixes in the innings.
"Our master blaster @T_Bird81 picked up tonight's biggest 6 of the match award #KXIPvHH pic.twitter.com/w0VBzwvLu8
— Hobart Hurricanes (@HurricanesBBL) September 18, 2014"
They had an immediate boost, however, as Doug Bollinger removed Virender Sehwag with the first ball of the reply.
David Miller also went for a duck as Kings XI stuttered to 23-3 but, as he did so often in the IPL, Glenn Maxwell came to his side's rescue.
The Australian took a liking to his compatriots' bowling, hitting four boundaries and two sixes in making 43 from 25 balls.
He went in the 11th over to leave the score on 77-5, but fellow Australian George Bailey (34) and Thisara Perera (35) saw their side home with room to spare.
"In the last 10 overs not a single Indian player was on the field just 12 Aussies, 1 Pakistani and 1 Sri Lankan #KXIPvHOB #CLT20
— Mohandas Menon (@mohanstatsman) September 18, 2014"
Cape Cobras, Barbados Tridents and Northern Knights, who came through the qualifying pool, complete Group B.
The top two will progress to the semi-finals, with the tournament coming to a crescendo in Bangalore on October 4.
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