IPL 9: Roaring start for Gujarat Lions

Mohali: Dwayne Bravo returned a four-wicket haul that included wickets of big-hitting David Miller and Glenn Maxwell as new-entrants Gujarat Lions restricted Kings XI Punjab to 161 for six in their Indian Premier League match here on Monday.

The Lions had raced to 98 for 2 in 10 overs with Aaron Finch and Dinesh Karthik batting on 61 and 14 respectively. With eight wickets in hand and 64 runs to get in 10 overs the Lions were poised to record their first win when this edition went to bed.

Earlier, invited to bat, Punjab openers Murali Vijay (42) and Manan Vohra (38) put on 78 runs in 8.2 overs to lay a very strong foundation for a big score but other batsmen failed to capitalise.

Ravindra Jadeja (2/30) removed both the openers but it was West Indies’ seamer Bravo (4/22) who turned it around for the Lions by dismissing both Miller and Maxwell in space of three balls in the 12th over.

Punjab struggled badly after that and had it not been for Marcus Stoinis’ 33-run knock they would have struggled to go past event 150-run mark. Praveen Kumar was impressive as he swung the ball nicely but Pradeep Sangwan was taken to task by Vijay.

Vijay was cautious initially but opened his arms to good effect after getting his eye in. He lofted Sangwan for a six over long-on and followed it up with an exquisite cover drive. He was in such good touch that he drove even good length balls effortlessly to the boundary ropes. He did not slog and played proper cricket shots at a good pace.

Vohra welcomed left-arm paceman James Faulkner with a crushing drive but was dropped next ball when he lofted the ball in the air only to see Bravo spill the chance.

Faulkner conceded 14 runs in his first over and the hosts raced to 50 inside six overs. Spinner Ravindra Jadeja managed to stop the run flow from one end and also broke the opening partnership by dismissing Vohra, whose inside edge was easily taken by Dinesh Karthik.

Stage was set for fireworks and in came Punjab skipper Miller. Jadeja though struck again by sending back Vijay, who missed the line of the ball to be bowled. Bravo rattled the Punjab camp by dismissing Glenn Maxwell (2) and Miller (15) in space of three balls.