Mohali: Kings XI Punjab skipper George Bailey had every reason to have a broad smile on his face as his side put up a “clinical” show, recording their fourth win in a row here on Sunday. Punjab beat Cape Cobras by seven wickets to finish on top of Group B.
“It was a good fightback with the ball and we did the job with the bat,” Bailey said.
Talking about the PCA wicket, the Australian said, “It was a tired wicket, holding up a little bit and it was pretty clinical in the end.”
Bailey was all praise for the young spinner Akshar Patel, who took three wickets for 15 runs and was declared Man of the Match.
“He does wonderful job, he does through the innings. He contains, he takes wickets and he does it with a short sleeved shirt which is pleasing. We use him at the start and later also,” he said.
Bailey said other spinner Karanveer Singh and Patel gel well together. “They bowl very beautifully together. I reckon he’s [Patel] a little lucky tonight.”
Stand-in Cobras captain Dane Vilas said they needed a better score on the board for a team like Punjab. “We knew we had to put a big score with such a strong batting line up. We tried out best out there but unfortunately not good enough,” he said.
Akshar Patel said, “I’m very happy with the captain and the management’s support. I do very well in batting and bowling.”
The hosts were in complete control of the inconsequential rubber as they won the toss, shot out the South African side for a mere 135 in 18.3 overs and then overhauled the target without any fuss with 11 balls to spare overs at PCA stadium.
Richard Levi top-scored for the South African side with his 42-run knock but it was Hashim Amla who provided impetuous to their innings at start with his blistering 22-ball 40.
Amla and Levi were only ones who put up some resistance as other Cobras batsmen failed to get going and were bowled out without completing their 20-overs quota. Cobras were 105 for two in the 13th over and lost last eight wickets for addition of just 30 runs.
None of the Punjab batsmen set the field on fire but the target was so modest that their small contributions were enough for the easy win.
Virender Sehwag (23) looked in good touch as he played some delectable drives on the off side before being dismissed by Robin Peterson. The other Punjab opener Manan Vohra (23) became second victim of Peterson as the left-arm spinner gave away just 19 runs in his four overs.
Big-hitting batsman Glenn Maxwell (23) hit a six each off Omphile Ramela and Sybrand Engelbrecht but he also could not last long. Wriddhiman Saha kept holding the one end as he guided the side home with his 35-ball 42.
Saha hit three boundaries, including a six, in his innings while David Miller finished unbeaten on 16.
