Internet Desk: Akshar Patel claimed the maiden hat-trick of IPL 9 to lead Kings XI Punjab to a convincing 23 run win over hosts Gujarat Lions at the Saurashtra Cricket Association Stadium in Rajkot on Sunday. Akshar claimed 4 wickets after giving away only 21 runs.
Put in to bat Kings XI rode on newly appointed captain Murali Vijay’s 55 runs to post 154 runs. Shival Kaushal claimed three wickets for Lions.
Lions started their chase on a shaky note as the openers Dwayne Smith and Brendon McCullum could only manage 13 runs. McCullum was bowled by Mohit Sharma for only 1 run. Soon to follow was Lions skipper Raina, who was dismissed by Mohit. Lions were 34/2.
Dwayne Smith too departed after scoring just 15 runs, sending Lions in deep trouble at 38/3. Smith was caught by Gurkeerat off the bowling of Akshar Patel.
Akshar next got the wicket of Dinesh Karthik, getting the wicketkeeper batsman bowled. He dismised
Dwayne Bravo off the next ball for a duck., thus putting him on a hat-trick. He came back in the 11th over to complete his hat-trick after getting Jadeja caught behind for 11 runs.
Ishan Kishan and James Faulkner stitched a partnership of 29 runs before Kishan was run out for 27 runs.
It was followed by a strong 39-runs stand between Faulkner and Praveen Kumar, before Kumar fell for just 15 to Mohit, after being caught by KC Cariappa in the 19th over. The second ball of the last over saw Lions highest scorer Faulkner falling for 32 runs to Sandeep Sharma, being caught by David Miller, as Kings XI steered to a comfortable 23-run win.