• Miller can’t rescue Kings XI Punjab

    David Miller scored 15 in Kings XI Punjab’s unsuccessful run chase, as they lost by 20 against the Sunrisers Hyderabad in Mohali on Monday.

    Last year’s losing finalists Kings XI remain rooted to the bottom of the IPL standings, as the Sunrisers put on a solid all-round display, with the foundations laid by David Warner, who continues to lead by example.

    The Australian opener lost the toss and was forced to put the pads on, but that didn’t stop him from cruising to yet another fifty – his fourth in seven matches – despite batsmen falling around him.

    Shikhar Dhawan and Hanuma Vihari departed early, but useful contributions from Moises Henriques and Naman Ojha allowed their side to build towards a competitive total. Thirteen runs were scored off the final three balls as the Sunrisers reached 150-6 from their allotted overs.

    The Sunrisers avoided the temptation to play both Dale Steyn and Trent Boult. Boult was the man to be entrusted with the leather, and he was on fire as he removed Manan Zohra for five, before Shaun Marsh was sent back for one.

    Kings XI skipper George Bailey and a sluggish Murali Vijay failed to get their side back on track, while the same could be said for David Miller, who couldn’t get going, and eventually fell victim to Karn Sharma for 15.

    Wriddhiman Saha and Axar Patel gave the Sunrisers a scare with a rapid 44-run stand, but Boult got both of them in the 18th over, spelling the end of their comeback.

    They would fall 20 runs short of the mark, to lose their fifth match of the tournament.

    Post by

    Tom Sizeland