Hashim Amla managed just one run on his Indian Premier League debut for Kings XI Punjab, but the efforts of Marcus Stoinis helped secure a nine-run victory over Delhi Daredevils.Former South Africa captain Amla replaced Shaun Marsh, who withdrew from the Kings XI squad due to a back injury, and made his first IPL appearance in Mohali yesterday.
Despite scoring just one run off five balls before being run out, Amla’s blushes were spared by Stoinis, who became the first player this season to combine a half-century with a three-wicket haul in one match.
The all-rounder chipped in with 52 runs as the target was set at 182, and he added a trio of wickets as the Daredevils were restricted to 172-5.
Kings XI put on 45 runs during the powerplay and lost captain Murali Vijay (25) to Chris Morris (2-30) before Amla was run out by a combination of Zaheer Khan and international team-mate Quinton de Kock after a series of close calls in the seventh over.
Stoinis kicked on and hit the match’s first maximum straight down the ground as he and Wriddhiman Saha mounted a 58-run partnership.
The Australian was caught off Zaheer (1-25) at long-on, before Saha was accounted for by Mohammed Shami (1-34) having matched Stoinis’ 52 off 11 fewer balls.
Strong unbeaten cameos from David Miller (11) and Axar Patel (16), whose five-ball stint included a pair of sixes, resulted in Kings XI posting 181-5 at the close of their innings.
De Kock (52) and Sanju Samson (49) mounted a fine start in response, but Stoinis (3-40) dismissed the opening duo to leave the Daredevils requiring 61 runs off 38 balls to win.
And the Australian added the scalp of Sam Billings (6), caught behind by Saha as Delhi fell well short.

(Omnisport).