Mohali: Shaun Marsh notched up his second successive half-century to lead Kings XI Punjab to a comprehensive nine-wicket win over Bangalore Royal Challengers in their IPL Twenty20 match here on Monday.

Chasing 144 to win, hosts easily overhauled the target with 4.2 overs to spare.

Earlier, electing to bat, the Bangalore team could manage just 143 for eight as their batsmen struggled to negotiate a disciplined bowling by opponent pacers.

The opening pair of James Hopes (27) and Shaun Marsh (74 not out) laid a strong foundation for a comfortable victory as they put on 42-runs and provided a good start to their team.

Marsh, who had hit 58 in his last innings, was dropped on individual score of 12 but did not give any chance afterwards and hit Dale Steyn for 19 runs in the 11th over of the innings to reach his fifty in just 35-balls.

The left-handed Australian consumed just 51 balls for his furious knock of 74, which was adorned with nine boundaries and two sixes.

Marsh along with compatriot Luke Pomersbach produced an unbeaten 102-run partnership for the second wicket.

After a cautious start, Hopes opened his arms and struck three huge sixes in his short innings.

R Vinaykumar drew the first and only blood on just second delivery of his first over when he had Hopes, going for a big shot, caught by Steyn near the boundary ropes.

However, nothing worked for the visitors after that as Marsh and Pomersbach scored at will and punished bowlers all around the park.

Electing to batting first, Bangalore Royal Challengers batsmen once again put up a flop show as they could manage just a modest 143 for eight.

The pace trio of S Sreesanth, Irfan Pathan and VRV Singh bowled with discipline, kept their attack around the off-stump and did not offer width to opponents, making life difficult for them.

South African Mark Boucher (39) and skipper Rahul Dravid (29) were the only willowers who put up some resistance after electing to bat on a pitch, which did offer pace and movement to the bowlers.

Sreesanth was the pick of the bowlers for the hosts as he accounted for three batsmen, giving away just 29 runs in his quota of four overs.

Young leg-spinner Piyush Chawla also impressed with his performance as he chipped in with two scalps.

Both the openers - J Arunkumar and Virat Kohli - struggled right from the start as they attempted some flashy shots out side the off stump but only managed edges.

Sreesanth struck early when he got rid of Arunkumar (3) on the first ball of his second over, when the batsman edged his delivery to first slip Mahela Jayawardene.

Pakistani Misbah-ul-Haq (21) somehow eased off the pressure by hitting some thunderous shots but did not last long as he once again perished in a strange manner.

Misbah trod on to his stumps while negotiating a Sreesanth delivery which came in, forcing him to begin a long trudge back to pavilion.

Kohli (21) followed his Pakistani teammate when he was castled by Chawla though not before hitting the young spinner for a couple of boundaries.

Skipper Rahul Dravid then joined Cameron White (10) but once again a strong partnership eluded the visitors.

White was undone by a stunning caught and bowled by Chawla, who ran about 15 yard towards mid-wicket to latch onto a mistimed shot.
 
 
 
 

Source : PTI