KXIP vs MI Highlights and Match Recap, IPL 2019, Full cricket score: Rahul's fifty takes Kings XI Punjab to eight-wicket win

Brilliant win for Kings XI Punjab. They will take a lot of heart from the way they played tonight. Rahul’s return to form will be an added bonus.

Mumbai was found wanting in both planning and implementation. Their batsmen got stuck in the middle overs. Contrast their approach to someone like Mayank Agarwal who got busy against the spinners from the word go. Mumbai Indians need to rethink their plan for the middle overs. Eight overs of spin from Punjab and Pandya brothers got to play hardly any of it. They have a long batting line up but is rendered worthless if Hardik and Krunal don’t get their best chance to make an impact. Yuvraj or Pollard may be better served by batting in a situation where they are forced to go for an all-out attack. Ishan Kishan also needs a look in at some point. He can probably come in for Pollard as a specialist batsman.

Meanwhile, DC have won the toss against KKR!

Meanwhile at the Kotla, @DelhiCapitals win the toss and elect to bowl first against the @KKRiders #DCvKKR pic.twitter.com/2x20PuQuaJ

— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) March 30, 2019

KXIP win by eight wickets and eight balls to spare.

KXIP cruise to an easy victory in their first home game at Mohali. KL Rahul bats through the innings and is back amongst runs. Miller swivels and pulls it to square leg for a single to complete a comfortable win. Two more points for the Kings XI.

After 18 overs,Kings XI Punjab 171/2 ( KL Rahul (W) 66 , David Miller 14)

If there was any late pressure building on that has been wiped off with a boundary off the last ball of McClenaghan’s over. A wide down the leg side resulted in an extra delivery that was hit for four by Miller. Six runs needed off 12 balls now for KXIP.

After 17 overs,Kings XI Punjab 163/2 ( KL Rahul (W) 64 , David Miller 9)

Here is Bumrah. MI’s last hope that is quickly extinguishing as Bumrah is taken for 11 runs from his over. Rahul’s calm has been indomitable today. KXIP cruising towards the target. Elemantry stuff now really for them. The home team requires 14 off 18 balls.

KL Rahul against MI in IPL:

46, 10, 25, 25, 23, 68*, 24, 94, 59* (batting today)

After 16 overs,Kings XI Punjab 152/2 ( KL Rahul (W) 53 , David Miller 9)

MI need to get over out from somewhere with Bumrah and Malinga to bowl their remaining two overs each. Here’s Malinga. Substitute fielder Anukul Roy’s misfeld results in an extra run. Malinga slips one down the leg side with twos on either side of it. KL Rahul has been there from the start of the innings, he is pacing it nicely wanting to stay there till the very end. KXIP procure 12 runs from the over and now need only 25 off 24 balls.

After 15 overs,Kings XI Punjab 140/2 ( KL Rahul (W) 43 , David Miller 8)

Just the over KXIP wanted at this stage. Hardik concedes 19 runs from the over. Again a six for KXIP to start the 15th over that helps the cause. Couple of wides from Pandya results in extra deliveries in the over along with two boundaries. The equation is down to 37 needed off 30 balls. Time out taken. Bumrah’s two overs still to account. Can Bumrah turn it for MI twice in three days?

After 14 overs,Kings XI Punjab 121/2 ( KL Rahul (W) 31 , David Miller 3)

A six early in the over helps KXIP take 12 runs from the over, however the hosts lost Mayank Agarwal’s wicket in the over. New man David Miller pumps it down thr ground for a couple to get off the mark. Krunal ends with figures of 43 runs off his four over, picking the wickets of Gayle and Agarwal in the process.

OUT! Goner! Agarwal has hit it straight back to the bowler and Krunal has held on to a good catch. Was held slightly back of a length and directed into Agarwal. The batsman had perhaps premediated to go down the ground, the length wasn’t there and hence couldn’t get the elvation or the power behind him. Another wicket for Krunal. Important breakthrough for MI. End of a valuable knock from Agarwal.
 

Agarwal c and b Krunal Pandya 43(21)

After 13 overs,Kings XI Punjab 109/1 ( KL Rahul (W) 30 , Mayank Agarwal 35)

Hardik Pandya is back into the attack. Hardik wisely varies his pace in the over and with some good work in the field McClenaghan saves a couple of runs for his team. He runs across from sweeper cover to deep point to save a couple as Rahul cut one through point. KXIP require 68 off 48 deliveries.

Hardik Pandya’s economy rate in T20 cricket:

Last 13 T20s : 9.88

Before that : 7.79

Mayank Agarwal against MI in IPL:

Last five innings combined – 26 runs

Today — 33* runs (batting)

After 12 overs,Kings XI Punjab 103/1 ( KL Rahul (W) 26 , Mayank Agarwal 33)

Agarwal with the pressure-releasing six from Krunal’s over. KXIP go past the 100-run mark as the 50-run stand comes up between Rahul and Mayank. Rahul is yet to kick on as he finds himself on 26 off 32 balls.

After 11 overs,Kings XI Punjab 91/1 ( KL Rahul (W) 24 , Mayank Agarwal 23)

Rohit brings McClenaghan back into the attack. No real attempt of a big shot in the over from either of the two batsmen out there. A couple to deep cover to end the over. Seven runs came from it. KXIP need 86 to win off 54 balls.

After 10 overs,Kings XI Punjab 84/1 ( KL Rahul (W) 19 , Mayank Agarwal 21)

Agarwal, who walked in the 8th over, has raced past opener and good friend KL Rahul in the number runs scored. Boundary alongside few singles and a couple. Stifled appeal for a leg before off the last ball but the ball was heading down. At the halfway stage KXIP need 93 off 60 balls.

After 9 overs,Kings XI Punjab 73/1 ( KL Rahul (W) 17 , Mayank Agarwal 14)

Two identical shots from Mayank Agarwal for a boundary ensuring KXIP do not lose the momentum after Gayle’s departure. Markande’s first over costs 12 runs.

After 8 overs,Kings XI Punjab 61/1 ( KL Rahul (W) 15 , Mayank Agarwal 5)

The Pandya brothers combine to get rid of Chris Gayle. Both teams lost their openers after a 50-run opening stand. Agarwal finishes Krunal’s first over with a boundary.