` KL Rahul the hero as Kings XI Punjab remain unbeaten at home
Mayank Agarwal and KL Rahul added 114 for the second wicket (BCCI photo).
Mayank Agarwal and KL Rahul added 114 for the second wicket (BCCI photo).

KINGS XI Punjab climbed into the top half of the VIVO IPL 2019 standings after they defeated the visiting Sunrisers Hyderabad by four wickets at the IS Bindra Stadium in Mohali on Monday night.

After winning the toss and opting to field, KXIP executed their bowling plans exceedingly well and restricted the Sunrisers to 150-4.

Later in the night, a classy 114-run partnership between KL Rahul and Mayank Agarwal set up the hosts’ run-chase. There was a bit drama towards the end when KXIP lost three wickets for eight runs.

 KXIP needed 11 off the final over – which was bowled by Mohammad Nabi; Sam Curran and Rahul finished saw KXIP over the line with one ball to spare.

Courtesy the dew which had settled down, the pitch had turned batsmen friendly and allowed the Kings XI Punjab batsmen to play their strokes. Chris Gayle perished early, but Rahul and Mayank didn’t let the bowlers dictate terms.

 Mayank was the aggressor early on, but Rahul wasn’t to be left too far behind. The pair treated Rashid Khan with the respect he deserved, but took on the other bowlers; they added 50 runs in 40 deliveries, and brought up the century partnership 37 balls later.

There was a bit of drama in the final few overs when KXIP lost Mayank (55), David Miller and Mandeep Singh in quick succession. But Rahul kept his cool, picked up a boundary off Nabi when his team needed 6 from 3 balls, and then scampered for a brace next ball to take his team home.

 Rahul finished unbeaten on 71, while Curran contributed 5 crucial runs from the three balls he faced.

In the evening, the KXIP took advantage of the muggy conditions; their bowlers started strong – repeatedly bowling disciplined lines and lengths. Even the normally aggressive David Warner was made to work hard for his runs. The left-hander batted the entire twenty overs, made 70 from 62 balls, and guided his team to a modest 150-4.

The Sunrisers added 100 runs in the back half – 19 of those runs coming off the last seven balls of the innings.

For the hosts, Mujeeb ur Rahman, Mohammed Shami and Ravichandran Ashwin picked up a wicket each.

Earlier,David Warner, despite being the aggressive batsman he is, put a price on his wicket, adapted to the conditions and worked hard for his runs – even if it made him look unattractive.

The left-hander struggled to cope with the lack of pace on the surface and played out several dot deliveries early on; he crawled to 9 from 17 balls and hit only one boundary in the powerplay period. He brought up his half-century in the sixteenth over – getting there in 49 balls – his slowest ever in the IPL. Warner finished unbeaten on 70; his 62-ball knock contained 20 singles, 10 twos, 6 boundaries and a six.

Brief Scores:
Kings XI Punjab: 151-4 in 19.5 overs (KL Rahul 71*, Mayank Agarwal 55) defeated Sunrisers Hyderabad: 150-4 (David Warner 70*) by 6 wickets.

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