Daily Cricket News

Valthaty powers stunning Kings' win

Hyderabad: Paul Valthaty's delivered both as a bowler (4/29) and as a batsman (75 off 47 balls) to pave way for Kings XI Punjab's stunning victory over Deccan Chargers by eight wickets in match 15 of IPL-4 here on Saturday.

Chasing 166 to win, KXIP openers Adam Gilchrist and Paul Valthaty put on a 136-run stand to defuse the Chargers, who were let down by their bowlers.

The chase, though, didn't start without a drama as Ishant Sharma almost got Valthaty early but for a no-ball when he had the right-hander caught at point.

The KXIP openers, however, went from strength to strength, with Gilchrist joining Valthaty in the assault on Deccan Chargers as they turned a steady start into aggressive one.

While Valthaty started the attack, Gilchrist took it to a different level with his half century in just 30 balls en route to a century opening stand.

Sangakkara's all attempts to break the partnership fell apart as the duo treated both pacers and spinners with utter disdain.

With less than fifty runs left to win, Gilchrist chose to go on an all out attack but in that endeavour holed out at deep square leg to give Amit Mishra and Deccan Chargers their first wicket of the match. The KXIP skipper scored 61 off 46 balls, including five fours and three sixes.

That also ended the 136-run opening stand between Gilchrist and Valthaty – the highest of IPL-4 until now.

By now, Valthaty had a license to thrill and finish it in a hurry as he took a hit-all approach, reaching his second consecutive half century off 35 balls. And then surpassed Sachin Tendulkar to bag the orange cap as the tournament's leading run-scorer.

However, off the very next ball Mishra got his man as Ishant took a nice running catch at long-on to dismiss Man-of-the-Match Valthaty, who finished with 75 off 47 balls with eight fours and five towering sixes.

Mishra was the only wicket-taker for the hosts, with a spell of 2/28.

Earlier, Valthaty took a four-wicket haul for Kings XI Punjab but Daniel Christian’s 14-ball cameo of 30 runs helped the hosts notch up a competitive total of 165/8.

Opening the batting for the hosts after being put in to bat, Sunny Sohal tried to loft Harris over mid-off but could not clear the fielder.

Chargers' skipper Kumar Sangakkara then strode in at his customary No. 3 position and started rotating the strike to start off.

Meanwhile, Shikhar Dhawan chose to be the aggressor and took on the KXIP bowlers, increasing the scoring rate by the end of 10 overs.

But just when it looked the two would take the game away from KXIP, Piyush Chawla and part-timer Paul Valthaty delivered body blows by removing Sangakkara (35) and Dhawan (46) in consecutive overs.

Bharat Chipli (14 off 12 balls) helped recover his team from the double blow with a 21-run stand with JP Duminy but couldn't extend it further, becoming Valthaty's second victim of the day.

Duminy and all-rounder Daniel Christian then took things in their hands to end the innings with a flourish.

But after scoring 18, Duminy fell in quest of quick runs as he was caught by Piyush Chawla off Ryan McLaren.

Next man in was Manpreet Singh Gony but he too failed, sent back into the hut for a naught after being bowled by McLaren.

Then it was all left on Christian's shoulders to deliver some quick runs in the end and he responded with a six off Valthaty.

But Punjab's last-match hero with the bat delivered for them with the ball in hand as he bowled Christian in the same over after the Australian all-rounder had scored a whirlwind 30 off 14 balls, including two fours and two sixes.

Valthaty made it four wickets to his kitty in the same over as he sent back Amit Mishra without scoring to end with figures of 4/29 in his four overs. McLaren bagged two wickets while Harris and Chawla claimed one apiece.`