Punjab posts a comfortable win

Our Correspondent

Kings XI Punjab, buoyed by a “Gayle storm”,had an eight-wicket win against Royal Challengers Punjab in the October 15 IPL match in Sharjah.West Indian Chris Gayle’s knock of 53 and skipper KL Rahul’s (61 not out) helped the team chase in style the RCB total of 171-6.

Punjab openers Rahul and Mayank Agarwal (45) gave Punjab a 78-run first wicket partnersip. Next came Gayle, who hasn’t batted since the Bangladesh Premier League in January; his innings had five sixes and a four.

Gayle, however, was run out in the last over and in came compatriot Nicholas Pooran who finished the chase with a sixoff the last over from Yuzvendra Chahal. Needing one run from the last ball, Punjab won comfortably with 177-2 with Pooran’s six.

Earlier, Chris Morris (25 off eight balls) and Isuru Udana helped Bangalore stack up 171 runs. Skipper Virat Kohli scored 48 off 39 balls while AB de Villiers who came in at No.6 went out for 2 falling to Mohammad Shami. Kohli too went in that same over from Shami.

K.L Rahul was declared Player of the Match for his fine knock.