SAS NAGAR (MOHALI), SEPT 18 : A brilliant unbeaten sixth wicket partnership of 69 runs between captain George Bailey (34 not out) and left hander Sri Lankan all-rounder Thisara Perera (35 not out) helped Kings XI Punjab turn the table on Hobart Hurricanes whom they beat by five wickets in the second match of the Champions League Twenty20 at the Punjab Cricket Association Stadium here tonight.
Chasing a victory target of 145, Punjab replied with 146 for 5 in 17.4 overs.
Earlier, Reeling at 77 for 5 in 10.5 overs, Kings XI Punjab, runners-up of last edition, were steered to victory by of Bailey and Perera. Displaying their authority, these Punjab batsmen flayed the Hurricanes bowlers.
After early dismissals of Virender Sehwag (0), Manan Vohra (18, 3x4s), Wriddhiman Saha (11) and David Miller (0) for 51 runs in 7.3 overs, Glenn Maxwell of Australia and skipper George Bailey were associated for a 26 runs partnership for the fifth wicket as Kings XI Punjab posted 77 for 5 in 10.5 overs. This partnership was broken by Gulbis who had Maxwell caught by captain-wicketkeeper Tim Paine. Maxwell’s well-compiled 43 from 25 deliveries contained four well struck boundaries and two sixees.
Bailey was joined by left handed Sri Lankan Thisara Perera and they steered their side to a commanding victory. Bailey’s undefeated knock of 34 came from 27 balls and he sent the ball to rope five times. Perera faced just 20 deliveries for his hurricane unbeaten 35. He hit five powerful boundaries and one soaring six.
Earlier, a fighting 72-run fifth wicket partnership between Travis Birt and Johnathan Wells helped Hobart Hurricanes recover to 144 for 6 .
Put in to bat after Punjab captain George Bailey won the toss and decided to chase, Hobart Hurricanes were four down for 78 in 12.3 overs before Birt and Wells defied the Punjab bowlers as they stitched a valuable partnership by taking their total to 130 in 17.4 overs before Wells was run out by combination of Karanveer and wicketkeeper Wriddhiman Saha. Wells, who was shaping well before his departure made his 28 in 18 balls and his knock was studded with five boundaries.
Birt was joined by Gulbis and they could realise only 13 before Birt was taken by Karanveer Singh of the bowling of Awana. Birt also scored 28 from 21 deliveries and contained one four and two sixes.
Gulbis and Hilfenhaus remained not out on 6 and zero as Hurricanes made 144 for 6 in their stipulated 20 overs.
Twenty five years old Sri Lankan Thisara Chirantha Perera impressed with his bowling spell as the medium fast bowler got two wickets for 17 runs in three overs.
Parvinder Awana, Akshar Patel and Karanveer Singh got one wicket each for 25, 20 and 37 runs, respectively.
Earlier, Kings XI Punjab got their first success when Akshar Patel bowled Tim Paine who made 11 from 16 deliveries and hit one boundary. His wicket fell at 15 in 4.2 overs.
Aiden Blizzard joined Dunk and they added 28 runs for the second wicket stand before Dunk departed, caught by Maxwell of the bowling of Perera. His 25-ball 26 contained four fours..
The Sri Lankan fast bowler Perera struck again. This time his victim was Aiden Blizzard who was caught by Parvinder Awana at extra covrer. Blizzard scored 27 from 18 balls and hit two boundaries and one six. Hurricanes lost their third wicket at 71 i n 11.2 overs.
With addition of just seven runs, Shoaib Malik of Pakistan was caught by George Bailey of the bowling of Karanveer Singh. Malik hit 14 in as many deliveries and reached the fence only once. Hurricanes were 78 for 4 in 12.3 overs.
SCOREBOARD
Hobart Hurricanes: Ben Dunk c Maxwell b Perera 26, Tim Paine b Akshar Patel 11, Aiden Blizzard c Parvinder Awana b Perera 27, Shoaib Malik c Bailey b Karanveer Singh 14, Travis Birt c Karanveer Singh b Awana 28, Johnathan Wells run out 28, Evan Gulbis not out 6, Ben Hifenhaus not out 0. Extras (lb 3, w 1) 4. Total (for six wickets in 20 overs) 144.
Fall of wickets: 1-15, 2-43, 3-71, 4-78, 5-142, 6-143.
Bowling: Anureet Singh 4-0-25-0, Parvinder Aiwana 4-0-25-1, Akshar Patel 4-0-20-1, Virender Sehwag 1-0-8-0, Thisara Perera 3-0-17-2, Glenn Maxwell 1-0-9-0, Karanveer Singh 3-0-37-1.
Kings XI Punjab: Virender Sehwag c Boyce b Bollinger 0, Manan Vohra c Hilfenhaus b Laughlin 18, Wriddhiman Saha c Shoaib Malik b Bollinger 11, David Miller c Boyce b Hilfenhaus 0, Glenn Maxwell c Paine b Gulbis 43, George Bailey not out 34, Thisara Perera not out 35. Extras (lb 1, w 4) 5. Total (for five wickets in 17.4 overs) 146.
Fall of wickets: 1-0, 2-21, 3-23, 4-51, 5-77.
Bowling: Douglas Bollinger 4-0-30-2, Ben Hilfenhaus 4-0-30-1, Cameron Boyce 3-0-36-0, Ben Laughlin 4-0-26-1, Gulbis 2.4-0-23-1