IPL 7: Glenn Maxwell, Lakshmipathy Balaji star in Kings XI Punjab’s 72-run win over Sunrisers Hyderabad

Sharjah:  Glenn Maxwell produced yet another blistering knock of 43-ball 95 before Lakshmipathy Balaji returned with a four-wicket haul as Kings XI Punjab notched up a crushing 72-run win over Sunrisers Hyderabad in their third IPL-7 match here on Tuesday.

After scoring 95 and 89 in his last two innings, Maxwell once again produced a devastating knock, which was studded with nine sixes and five fours as Punjab posted an imposing 193 for six in their stipulated 20 overs.

George Bailey’s men then came up with a clinical bowling display to dismiss Hyderabad for 121 with four balls to spare at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium as Punjab registered their third straight win in IPL-7.

Maxwell, who was dropped by David Warner off Karn Sharma in the 10th over before Darren Sammy had him caught on a no-ball in the 15th over, shared 68 runs off 27 balls with David Miller for the third wicket. He also added 35 runs with Cheteshwar Pujara and 25 runs with skipper Bailey.

Seam bowler Lakshmipathy Balaji returned with incredible figures of 4-0-13-4, while Mitchell Johnson (2 for 26) and Akshar Patel (2/20) snapped two wickets each. Sandeep Sharma (1/26) and Rishi Dhawan (1/23) took one each for Punjab.

Chasing 194 to win, Hyderabad found the going tough as they were reduced to 33 for three in 4.5 overs.

While Mitchell Johnson struck the first blow dismissing skipper Shikhar Dhawan (1) in his second ball, it was Balaji’s twin strike in his opening over which derailed their run-chase.
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Balaji first knocked off Aaron Finch’s (19) stumps with an angled delivery, while two balls later, a back of a length delivery sent David Warner (8) back to the hut with Maxwell taking the catch at point.

Newman Y Venugopal Rao (11) tried his bit and scored a couple of boundaries off Dhawan’s first over but he was sent back to the pavilion by Sandeep after the power-play overs.

Lokesh Rahul and Irfan Pathan tried to build a stand but spinner Akshar dislodged the latter’s bails as Hyderabad slipped further to 74 for five in 10.2 overs….

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