Suresh Raina, the Gujarat Lions captain, chose to bowl in the franchise’s debut in the 3rd match of IPL 9 against Kings XI Punjab in Mohali. His decision proved right as a brilliant spell from all-rounder Dwayne Bravo restricted the hosts to an under par score of 161/6 on a flat pitch. In reply, the Australian Aaron Finch put on a brilliant attacking show that took the Lions home in comfortable fashion.
David Miller, leading Kings XI for the first time, brought debutant Marcus Stoinis into the side after Shaun Marsh was ruled out because of food poisoning. KXIP also included two spinners in Axar Patel and leg-spinning debutant Pardeep Sahu. Bravo, James Faulkner, Brendon McCullum and Finch filled the overseas slots for the Lions. Leg-spinner Sarabjit Ladda, who has previously played for Delhi Daredevils and Kolkata Knight Riders, and India U19 captain Ishan Kishan also found a place.
The home side got off to a blazing start as India’s Test opener Murali Vijay looked in superb touch. He spanked 42 off 34 balls including 5 fours and one six. He was given superb company by Manan Vohra who made 38 off 23 balls including 4 fours and 2 sixes. Veteran seamer Praveen Kumar (0/25 off 4 overs) did well in his opening spell, however, the left arm quick Pradeep Sangwan found it difficult against the two openers and conceded 21 runs off his 2 overs.
Ravindra Jadeja took 2/30 in his four-over spell that included the crucial wickets of both the openers. While Vohra was stumped by Dinesh Karthik, Vijay lost his leg-stump in attempting a lofted shot over the off-side with the score on 91 in the 11th over. It was the Bravo show after this as he bowled a quick yorker to remove Glenn Maxwell (2) and a slower one to clean up Miller (15).
Stoinis showed his potential with the bat in a 22-ball 33 that included 4 fours while Wriddhiman Saha contributed 20 off 25. Both were flummoxed by Bravo’s slower ones and holed out in trying to go for a big finish. The West Indian could have had a five-for had Ladda (0/21 off 2) not dropped a sitter off the final ball of the innings. Axar (4 not out), in going for a mighty heave, was completely deceived by another slower ball from Bravo but the leggie made a complete mess of an easy chance. Faulkner proved expensive in his spell of 0/39 off 4 overs.
The Lions got off to a horrible start and lost McCullum (0) off the last ball of the opening over bowled by Sandeep Sharma. Saha came up to the stumps and ensured a smart stumping as the former New Zealand skipper tried to dance down the track to the young seamer. Skipper Raina smashed 2 maximums and 1 four in his 9-ball 20 before being holed out to a slower one from Stoinis (1/27 off 2).
Finch looked in ominous touch and hammered the ball to all corners of the ground. Mitchell Johnson was smashed for 20 in his initial 2 overs while Mohit Sharma (0/24 off 2.4) conceded 13 off his first over. Axar’s 2 overs went for 17 as the Aussie opener made 74 off just 47 balls including 12 fours which completely deflated the home side. Sahu (1/35) showed promise in his first major outing and got one to spin past the bat of Finch who was found short of his crease by an ever alert Saha. At the end of this 12th over of the innings, the visitors were comfortably placed on 117/3.
Jadeja made 8 off 12 before being run out by Johnson (1/35) who sprinted in his follow through and used his foot perfectly to hit the bulls-eye. Ishan Kishan hit a lovely sweep to the boundary and later dispatched the veteran Aussie fast bowler over midwicket for the same result in his 11 off 8 balls before being out caught off the same bowler. Karthik looked in fine touch and hit some elegant boundaries. His unbeaten 41 off 26 balls included 7 delightful hits to the fence that ensured a win for his team with 14 balls to spare.
Brief Scores:
Kings XI Punjab: 161/6 in 20 overs (M Vijay 42; D Bravo 4/22)
Gujarat Lions: 162/5 in 17.4 overs (A Finch 74; P Sahu 1/35, M Johnson 1/35)
Man of the Match: Aaron Finch (Gujarat Lions)
