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Mohali: Gujarat Lions will hope to get off to a winning start in their debut Indian Premier League (IPL) season when they take on a Kings XI Punjab outfit eager to shake off a disappointing 2015 campaign at the Punjab Cricket Association Stadium in Mohali on Monday. Gujarat have entered the IPL along with Rising Pune Supergiants as replacement for the two suspended franchises Chennai Super Kings and Rajasthan Royals. Pune started their campaign on a resounding note with a nine-wicket win over defending champions Mumbai Indians in the inaugural match of of the ninth IPL season. The IPL newcomers Gujarat Lions have a number of big hitters in their squad, including the likes of skipper Suresh Raina, Brendon McCullum, James Faulkner, and Aaron Finch. They also have excellent all-rounders in Dwayne Bravo and Ravindra Jadeja, apart from Faulkner. [caption id=“attachment_2723602” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] Murali Vijay in action against Gujarat Lions. BCCI[/caption] The Lions’ bowling also wears a strong look with South African veteran Dale Steyn as the main star. Steyn will be expected to lead the pace atack along with the Australian duo of Faulkner and Andrew Tye. Pravin Kumar, Pradeep Sangwan and Akshdeep Nath are the other pacers in the side. Punjab, on the other hand, will be hoping to recover from a poor 2015 IPL season when they finished at the bottom of the points table despite boasting a promising line-up. This season, Punjab will be without the services of explosive opener Virender Sehwag and former skipper George Bailey. While Sehwag announced his retirement late last year, Bailey went unsold at the auction this year. In the absence of the star duo, Glenn Maxwell is expected to be the batting mainstay. The hard-hitting Australian was one of the leading stars of the 2014 campaign when Punjab reached the final. Maxwell endured an extended run of poor form last season and will be keen to make amends this year. Punjab captain David Miller, Murali Vijay and Wriddhiman Saha were in good knick in the 2015 IPL and will be expected to come up with major contributions this time as well. Experienced Australian left-hander Shaun Marsh is also among the options in the batting department. They also have a couple of talented all-rounders in Farhaan Behardien and Marcus Stoinis. Kings XI have bolstered their bowling with the addition of experienced South African pacer Kyle Abbott and promising Indian medium-pacer Mohit Sharma. Abbott during South Africa’s tour to the sub-continent late last year has shown that he can be a handful in Indian conditions. Sharma was a revelation at the 50-over World Cup in Australia last year and carried his good form into the IPL where he claimed 14 wickets. Veteran Australian fast bowler Mitchell Johnson will probably be used as an opening pacer along with Abbott. The 34-year-old Australian has not played competitive cricket since his international retirement last November. It remains to be seen whether he will be able to get into his groove quickly and play an effective role as the leader of the pace attack. IANS
IPL 2016 KXIP vs Gujarat Lions as it happened: Finch fifty, Karthik blitz guide Lions to five-wicket win
Gujarat Lions will hope to get off to a winning start in their debut Indian Premier League (IPL) season when they take on a Kings XI Punjab outfit eager to shake off a disappointing 2015 campaign at the Punjab Cricket Association Stadium in Mohali on Monday.
 "IPL 2016 KXIP vs Gujarat Lions as it happened: Finch fifty, Karthik blitz guide Lions to five-wicket win")
Ishan Kishan will be the find of the tournament #KXIPvGL
— dK (@kdayalan) April 11, 2016
All over at Mohali, @TheGujaratLions have beaten us by 5 wickets. Tough luck #KXIP. #KXIPvGL
— Punjab Kings (@PunjabKingsIPL) April 11, 2016
Very impressive debut for #gujratlions @IPL. The experience of match winners makes them an exciting outfit in #VIVOIPL #KXIPvGL #Mohali
— Anjum Chopra (@chopraanjum) April 11, 2016
After 17 overs,Gujarat Lions 155/5 ( Dinesh Karthik (W) 36 , Dwayne Bravo 0)
FOUR! Kishan gets his first boundary with a sweep towards fine-leg, that too when he was cramped for room along his left. Johnson into his final over, and Karthik charges down the pitch to drive him over extra-cover for a much-needed boundary! FOUR! Kishan is batting with supreme confidence right now, as he takes on Mitchell Johnson by launching him over midwicket for his 2nd boundary! OUT! Johnson hits back in the following delivery for Gujarat Lions losing their fifth wicket with 151 on board. FOUR! Karthik keeps the offensive going despite the dismissal, punching the length delivery from Johnson in his final delivery of the match down the ground.
FOUR! Kishan makes the equation even simpler #GujaratLions, paddle sweeps it to four. #KXIPvGL #IPL2016 https://t.co/RP25d3Ieh6
— Firstpost Sports (@FirstpostSports) April 11, 2016
After 15 overs,Gujarat Lions 134/4 ( Dinesh Karthik (W) 26 , Ishan Kishan 1)
Jadeja gets off the mark with a double towards backward point in the 13th over by Mohit Sharma. Mishit by Jadeja sends the ball down towards the boundary rope, and it takes some athletic fielding to save the boundary. FOUR! Lovely reverse-sweep by Karthik towards third man! Johnson into the attack in the 15th over, with less than a run-a-ball needed for Gujarat right now. OUT! Gujarat lose their fourth wicket with 133 on board after Johnson kicks the ball onto the stumps at the striker’s end, beating Jadeja by a mile! India U-19 captain Ishan Kishan walks out to bat next, with 28 needed off 30 balls with six wickets in hand!
Meanwhile, KXIP co-owner Ness Wadia has something to say over his side’s fixtures in drought-hit Maharashtra.
Considering playing #KXIP matches out of Maharashtra, says Ness Wadia. #IPL2016 https://t.co/I8q1VXvd6J pic.twitter.com/RxtsoDIt1g
— Firstpost Sports (@FirstpostSports) April 11, 2016
Sigh. I had Maxwell, McCullum, Ladda, Tambe & Anureet in my fantasy team. The best performers were the last two, who did't play.
— Ramesh Srivats (@rameshsrivats) April 11, 2016
Great Inning By Finch Hitter. 74 Off 47 Balls. Well Done Bro.#KXIPvGL #GLvsKXIP #IPL9 #IPL2016
— Sir Jadeja fan (@SirJadeja) April 11, 2016
After 12 overs,Gujarat Lions 117/3 ( Dinesh Karthik (W) 20 , Ravindra Jadeja 0)
Sahu comes in to bowl the 10th over, with Finch well-settled at the crease with Karthik doing reasonably well at the other end. FOUR! Powerful pull off the backfoot by Finch, with the fielders having no chance at midwicket! Finch meanwhile, is striking at more than 150 at the moment! Finch, batting in the 60s right now, sends the first ball of the following over by Sandeep straight down the ground. Takes some great fielding to save a couple of runs for KXIP. FOUR! Slow bouncer from Sandeep, and Finch takes his time before ramping this one towards third man! FOUR! Swept with finesse by Karthik towards backward square-leg! FOUR! Finch cuts the half-volley delivery outside off towards backward point, with the ball flying to high for the fielder to complete the catch. OUT Finch is stumped for 74 as Gujarat lose their 3rd wicket with 117 on board.
Can We Please Have A Quick Boxing Round Between Dinesh Karthik & Murali Vijay During Strategic Timeout. Please!#KXIPvGL #GLvsKXIP #IPL9
— Sir Jadeja fan (@SirJadeja) April 11, 2016
Rameez raja is afraid d consequences of not praising indian players so praising them like anything, 😂😂 #KXIPvGL
— mon (@4sacinom) April 11, 2016
After 9 overs,Gujarat Lions 89/2 ( Aaron Finch 54 , Dinesh Karthik (W) 12)
FOUR! Smart batting by Finch, guiding the short delivery along middle-stump towards third man for a boundary off the first ball of the fifth over! Meanwhile, Johnson is in the middle of an expensive spell right now! SIX! Pulled by Raina over midwicket, as the 50 comes up for Gujarat! OUT! Raina is caught by Johnson off Stoinis’ bowling after a 9-ball 20. FOUR! Finch gets some room, and cuts it through the gap between cover and point for his sixth boundary of the innings! Meanwhile, Axar i into the attack for the sixth over. Karthik makes room for himself, and cuts the first ball he faces through backward point for a four! FOUR! Fuller one from Axar, and Finch guides it away towards fine-leg, with the ball spinning away from the fielder. Stoinis in for the seventh over. FOUR! Slow, rising delivery, and Finch times it to perfection to send it through the gap through backward point. FOUR! Finch gets to his half-century in just 32 deliveries with a straight drive! Perfect weight distribution and timing, as the ball beats the fielders at the straight boundary! FOUR! Magnificent straight drive by Karthik for the wicketkeeper-batsman to move to double figures!
In this game so far
— Sarang Bhalerao (@bhaleraosarang) April 11, 2016
Fast bowlers Dwayne Bravo & Faulkner were looking to bowl slower.
Spinner Axar Patel is looking to bowl fast#KXIPvGL
After 4 overs,Gujarat Lions 36/1 ( Aaron Finch 23 , Suresh Raina (C) 13)
Mitchell Johnson into the attack. Finch takes a double after sending the ball high in the sky, before getting a boundary after sending the wide, fuller delivery towards the cover point boundary! FOUR MORE! Shorter one from Johnson, and Finch pulls it towards backward square-leg. Skipper Raina gets off the mark off his second delivery with a straight six! Now that’s the Raina that we know! Mohit Sharma into the fourth over, and Finch launches him over midwicket off the first ball! FOUR MORE! Same region. Only grounded the shot this time, as the ball beats the fielders! FOUR! Raina ends the fourth over with a boundary down towards fine-leg! For all that he has struggled in recent times, he looks in good touch tonight!
Two players recently retired from international cricket - Brendon McCullum and Mitchell Johnson - on view tonite at Mohali!#KXIPvGL#IPL
— Mohandas Menon (@mohanstatsman) April 11, 2016
SIX! Raina is home at IPL, lofts Sandeep for a cute looking six over long-on. Superb shot #KXIPvGL #IPL2016 https://t.co/RP25d3Ieh6
— Firstpost Sports (@FirstpostSports) April 11, 2016
After 1 overs,Gujarat Lions 1/1 ( Aaron Finch 1 , )
Sandeep Sharma to bowl the first over of the Gujarat Lions innings, with Finch and Brendon McCullum opening the innings for the latter. Appeal for lbw off the second ball of the innings! Finch gets off the mark off the fourth ball. OUT! McCullum comes down the track in an attempt to smash Sandeep, and gets stumped in the process!
Meanwhile, some good news for KKR fans.
Boost for Gambhir's men: Sunil Narine back with @KKRiders squad on Tuesday #IPL2016 https://t.co/6xsySrCYXh pic.twitter.com/ne49QQmP27
— Firstpost Sports (@FirstpostSports) April 11, 2016
Have seen many dropped catches but not seen too many fielders circle around other fielder to retrieve the ball. #IPL2016 #IPL9 #KXIPvGL
— Suneer (@suneerchowdhary) April 11, 2016
KXIP today:
— Bharath Seervi (@SeerviBharath) April 11, 2016
First 8 overs: 71 for 0
Next 4 overs: 31 for 4
Last 8 overs: 59 for 2 (both wkts in 20th over)#GLvsKXIP
Bravo finishes with his best figures in IPL.
And it’s time for the death overs in the KXIP innings, with Faulkner bowling the 17th, and starts off with a slower one outside off. Meanwhile, three fielders in the circle on the off-side. Excellent over under pressure from Faulkner, who concedes only six off it. Same stuff from Praveen Kumar in the 18th, not givin away too many with his variations. Singles off the first four deliveries, before some good running in the fifth results in a double. FOUR! Stoinis ends the boundary drought with a ramp shot, sending the fuller delivery towards the fine-leg boundary! Dropped! India U-19 captain Ishan Kishan dives at deep cover, but fails to hold on after Saha reaches for a wide delivery. FOUR! Commanding drive by Stoinis through extra-cover off a Faulkner delivery pitched outside off! Nine off the over! Bravo comes in for his final over, and Saha sends it high up in the air, with the ball landing in no-man’s land. Dot off a yorker in the second delivery. OUT! Bravo dismisses Saha and Stoinis off consecutive deliveries to get to four wickets! DROPPED! Bravo misses out on a fifer as Ladda spills an apparently simple one off Axar Patel, with KXIP finishing on 161/6 after 20 overs.
After 20 overs,Punjab 161/6 ( Axar Patel 4 , Mitchell Johnson 0)
And it’s time for the death overs in the KXIP innings, with Faulkner bowling the 17th, and starts off with a slower one outside off. Meanwhile, three fielders in the circle on the off-side. Excellent over under pressure from Faulkner, who concedes only six off it. Same stuff from Praveen Kumar in the 18th, not givin away too many with his variations. Singles off the first four deliveries, before some good running in the fifth results in a double. FOUR! Stoinis ends the boundary drought with a ramp shot, sending the fuller delivery towards the fine-leg boundary!
Dropped! India U-19 captain Ishan Kishan dives at deep cover, but fails to hold on after Saha reaches for a wide delivery. FOUR! Commanding drive by Stoinis through extra-cover off a Faulkner delivery pitched outside off! Nine off the over! Bravo comes in for his final over, and Saha sends it high up in the air, with the ball landing in no-man’s land. Dot off a yorker in the second delivery. OUT! Bravo dismisses Saha and Stoinis off consecutive deliveries to get to four wickets! DROPPED! Bravo misses out on a fifer as Ladda spills an apparently simple one off Axar Patel, with KXIP finishing on 161/6 after 20 overs.
A Bombay Bong with an identity crisis. Passionately follow cricket. Hardcore fan of Team India, the Proteas and junk food. Self-proclaimed shutterbug. see more
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