Miller guides KXIP to emphatic IPL win

Watch replay: View here

Full scorecard: View here

Images courtesy of BCCI

Kings XI Punjab have continued their winning ways with an emphatic 32-run victory over Royal Challengers Bangalore in Match 31 of IPL 7.

Batting first, Aussie allrounder Glenn Maxwell took a back seat as team-mate David Miller did the damage with the bat to guide KXIP to an imposing score of 8-198.

Quick Single: Maxwell using IPL as step to Test recall

Miller’s brutal knock of 66 from just 29 balls featured eight fours and three sixes, including a huge hit to the back of the stands over long-on against Yuzvendra Chahal.

After an incredible run of form so far in the tournament, Maxwell was reduced to a cameo role this time around with 25 runs from 11 balls before he was well caught by Australia team-mate Mitchell Starc on the boundary.

Image Id: ~/media/5999FDE8D76B4AE9B7AC85753C191BAB

On the back of an ugly confrontation with Mumbai’s Kieron Pollard just two nights ago, Starc picked up two late wickets to finish with 2-43 from his four overs.

RCB’s run chase never got going with batting stars Chris Gayle (4 off 7) and Virat Kohli (0 off 1) again failing to leave their mark on the contest.

South African AB de Villiers did his best to drag his team back into contention with a typically brilliant knock of 53 from 26 balls, including five sixes.

Image Id: ~/media/CCF02EF5272843E183A871CA67C3BDED

Despite some late hitting from Starc (29 off 23), RCB fell well short of the target to finish on 9-166.

Mitchell Johnson collected one wicket, but it was Sandeep Sharma who was the pick of the KXIP bowlers with 3-25.

Image Id: ~/media/76772610AFFD4A5C80815CF4A6477997

George Bailey’s side now sits two points clear on top of the table with seven wins from eight matches.

Quick Single: Bailey speaks exclusively to cricket.com.au

Royal Challengers Bangalore

Virat Kohli (c), AB de Villiers, Chris Gayle, Yuvraj Singh, Mitchell Starc, Albie Morkel, Varun Aaron, Ashok Dinda, Parthiv Patel, Muttiah Muralitharan, Ravi Rampaul, Nic Maddinson, Harshal Patel, Vijay Zol, Abu Nechim, Sachin Rana, Shadab Jakati, Sandeep Warrier, Tanmay Mishra, Yogesh Takawale, Yuzvendra Chahal. 

George Bailey (c), David Miller, Manan Vohra, Mitchell Johnson, Glenn Maxwell, Virender Sehwag, Rishi Dhawan, Wriddhiman Saha, Shaun Marsh, Cheteshwar Pujara, Beuran Hendricks, Lakshmipathy Balaji, Thisara Perera, Gurkeet Mann Singh, Murali Kartik, Sandeep Sharma, Mandeep Singh, Akshar Patel, Parvinder Awana, Shardul Thakur, Anureet Singh, Shivam Sharma, Karanveer Singh.