Bopara stars as Punjab claim first win
IPL: DURBAN, South Africa, April 25, 2009: Ravi Bopara scored 84 as
Kings XI Punjab defeated Bangalore Royal Challengers by seven wickets
Friday to claim their first Indian Premier League victory this season.
Former England captain Kevin Pietersen was out for a duck as
Bangalore made 168-9 in their 20 overs at Kingsmead and Punjab reached
173-3 with an over to spare in perfect conditions.
Despite failing to score for the second match in succession,
Pietersen remained optimistic about Bangalore’s chances in the
tournament.
“It’s a long competition, if you win the next nine games then you’re
okay” he said.
“We just need to get winning, it’s a habit and as soon as you start
winning everything starts to become okay. It’s not nice losing but we’ve
got to try and turn it around now come Sunday.”
England right-hander Bopara struck five sixes and four fours during a
59-ball spell at the crease and skipper Yuvraj Singh (30 not out) and
Sri Lankan Kumar Sangakkara (26) offered good support.
Punjab, losers of two rain-affected games since the IPL extravaganza
began last weekend, had 52 runs on the board before losing their first
wicket and reached 80-1 by the 10-over ‘strategy break’.
Pietersen deployed seven bowlers, including himself, South African
Jacques Kallis and Indian Anil Kumble, but they could not stem the
Punjab run flow before a large crowd in the Indian Ocean city.
Kings scored 19 runs off the 16th over to swing the game decisively
in their favour and when Royals finally got rid of Bopara, caught by New
Zealander Jesse Ryder off the bowling of Kallis, it was far too late.
Only veteran Kumble (1-19) impressed with the ball for a Bangalore
team suffering their third loss in four outings as one-wicket Kallis
conceded 51 runs in four overs.Kallis fared much better with the bat,
top scoring for Royals with a 62 that included two sixes and five fours,
New Zealander Ross Taylor contributed 35 and compatriot Ryder got among
the runs with a brisk 32 after two ducks.
Little known South African Yusuf Abdulla (4-31) and Irfan Pathan
(3-35) took the bowling honours for Punjab, who were watched by co-owner
and Bollywood star Preity Zinta.
Bangalore: 168-9 in 20 overs (J.Kallis 62, R.Taylor 35, J.Ryder 32;
Y.Abdulla 4-31, I.Pathan 3-35).
Punjab: 173-3 in 19 overs (R.Bopara 84, Y.Singh 30 not out,
K.Sangakkara 26)
Punjab win by seven wickets |
