With 192 to chase and 8 games already lost against Rajasthan Royals, any team would have wondered if they can win. But a team with the duo, Maxwell and Miller had no second thought. After all they chased 206 runs just in the last match against the best team of IPL 2014, CSK. Today again they showed why Kings XI is the biggest threat of IPL 7 as the match again finished with more than an over to spare as they tormented Royals bowlers with 12 sixes and 11 fours. Maxwell had a strike rate just below 300. Miller got better with a strike rate of 268, and was again unbeaten.
Royals Score 191/5
Rahane and Nayar made the intention clear from the first over. They wanted to score high. Rahane (8-ball 13 runs) was run out due to mix up by Nayar (20-ball 23 runs), wom himself got out on the first ball of 7th over. Rajasthan were 54/2. Then Captain Watson joined Sanju Samson who was already showing his class. They added 74 runs in 7 overs as Watson (29-ball 50 with 3 6s and 5 4s) was bowled by Akshar Patel. Binny also made quick 8-ball 12 runs with a six, and then Samson (34-ball 52 with 4 6s and 3 4s) was bowled by Awana. They have made a strong total alreayd with score reading 159/5 in 16.5 overs. From there Smith (15-ball 27 with 5 4s) and Faulkner (8 runs with a six) added unbeaten 47 runs in 3.1 overs to get RR to 191/5.
For Kings XI, Akshar Patel was exceptional with 1/22 in 4 overs. Johnson again got treated badly with 1/29 in 4. Awana (1/4), Balaji (0/46) and Murali Kartik (1/51) suffered the maximum brunt.
Kings XI Chase with 8 balls remaining
In a high chase, Sehwag failed scoring only 2 runs on 7 balls. Promoted to No. 3 Saha also could score only 2. Pujara (38-ball 40 runs with 3 4s) stayed till end but was a spectator at other end as the asking rate was increasing. He watched two great T20 innings. First Maxwell (45-ball 89 runs with 6 6s and 8 4s) and then Miller (19-ball 51 runs with 6 6s) took them home. For 3rd wicket Maxwell and Pujara added 116 runs in 11.1 overs. For 4th wicket Miller and Pujara added unbeaten 67 runs in 4.5 overs.
Maxwell: Player of the Match
With two successful high chases against two good teams, Kings XI are on a roll. Maxwell again missed the century, but his innings made them believe that target is achievable. He grabbed the Orange Cap too.
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