Cricket CLT20 2014: Kings XI Punjab Get The Better Of Hobart Hurricanes

First-timers in CLT20, Kings XI Punjab came from behind to thrash Hobart Hurricanes and win the second group match by 5 wickets on Thursday.

Set a target of 145 runs, the Punjab start was disappointing with their opener and star batsman, Virender Sehwag falling for a duck on the very first ball of the innings. Sehwag was going for a six but the ball flew straight into the safe hands of Cameron Boyce. After that, runs kept flowing for Punjab but wickets were also falling at regular intervals and before long, the score read as 51/4 in the 8^th over.

Glen Maxwell known for his hard-hitting scored a quick-fire 43 off just 25 balls. His knock was studded with 4 fours and 2 sixes. On Maxwell's departure, the responsibility to take the team home was shouldered by Captain George Bailey and Sri-Lankan Thisara Perera. They shared an unbroken sixth-wicket partnership of 69 runs. Punjab comfortably reached the target 146/5 in the 18^th over with 14 balls to spare.

Thisara Perera was adjudged man of the match for his efforts both with the bat and the ball. He dismissed 2 batsmen of the Hurricanes giving away 17 runs in the first innings. Earlier, Hobart Hurricanes were off to a slow start. The first boundary came in the third over. Captain Tim Paine perished for only 11 off 16 balls in the fifth over. The score was a paltry 17/1 at the end of 5 overs. Opener Ben Dunk brought some momentum to the innings hitting 4 fours soon after. Aiden Blizzard and Shoaib Malik chipped in with 27 off 18 balls and a run-a-ball 14 respectively to keep the score ticking. Then, Jonathan Wells and Travis Birt took over the reins and scored 52 runs in just 5.1 overs before Wells was run out in the 18^th over. The final score was 144/6 in the allotted 20 overs.

The next group match features Cape Cobras vs Northern Knights at 2:30 pm GMT on Friday.