Maxwell smashed six sixes during his breathtaking knock of 89
Image courtesy of: ESPNcricinfo
It was the Glenn Maxwell show once again as he and South Africa batsman David Miller helped the Kings XI Punjab demolish the Rajasthan Royals by seven wickets in Sharjah.
Maxwell hammered an entertaining 89, while Miller blitzed his way to an unbeaten 51.
Punjab captain George Bailey would have been beaming from ear to ear with his decision to bowl first early on as he ran out Rajasthan opener Ajinkya Rahane for 13.
Abhishek Nayar managed to score 23 runs before he was given out lbw off the bowling of Murali Kartik.
Rajasthan skipper Shane Watson and wicketkeeper Sanju Samson stabilised the innings with a 74-run partnership, during which Watson brought up his half-century, before he was clean bowled by Akshar Patel for 50 off 29 balls, which included five boundaries and three sixes.
Stuart Binny only made 12 runs before he was caught by Miller at long-on off the bowling of Mitchell Johnson.
Samson went on to register his own half-century, but failed to convert it into a bigger score as he was cleaned up by Parvinder Awana for 52 off 34 deliveries, which included three boundaries and four sixes.
Thanks to Watson and Samson, the Royals were able to finish on 191/5 at the end of their 20 overs.
Patel, Johnson, Awana and Kartik all picked up one wicket each.
Chasing 192 to win, Punjab got off to a horrible start as they lost their top two batsmen for only 10 runs.
Maxwell and Cheteshwar Pujara took over from that point on as they put together a 116-run partnership, during which Maxwell brought up his half-century, before he was caught by Steven Smith at long-on off the bowling of Kane Richardson.
Maxwell’s outstanding knock of 89 came off 45 balls and included eight boundaries and six maximums.
Pujara and Miller finished things off with an unbeaten 67-run partnership, during which Miller registered his half-century.
Pujara finished on 40 off 38 balls, which included three boundaries, while Miller blazed his way to 51 off just 19 deliveries, which included six sixes.
Miller hammered 51 runs off only 19 balls
Image courtesy of: ESPNcricinfo
Richardson, Dhawal Kulkarni and James Faulkner snapped up one wicket apiece.
Watson was unavailable to comment on his team’s performance at the end of the match.
Bailey praised Maxwell and Miller for their extraordinary performances, and said: “Once again some extraordinary batting from Maxi and David Miller. Credit to Rajasthan, they bowled well at the start and hit their lengths better than we did. We fell behind, but the way Maxi and Miller batted, it was not an issue. Obviously we would not like to be chasing as many, that would be ideal.”
Maxwell was named Man of the Match, and said: “I would not say pay back [for sitting on the bench at Mumbai Indians last season]. Mumbai had a pretty good side last year. I had to bide my time. I have a plan for each ball, just try and hit different gaps. Depending on the field they set, I know where the ball is going to be. Worries me more that I was not there at the end to hit the winning runs, that was a job half finished.”