Sharjah, April 23 (IANS) Another stunning batting performance by Glenn Maxwell helped Kings XI Punjab thrash Sunrisers Hyderabad by 72 runs for a hat-trick of wins in the Indian Premier League (IPL) here Tuesday.
Maxwell, who had struck 95 and 89 in the last two games, again came up with a whirlwind knock of 95 in just 43 balls hitting five fours and nine sixes as Kings XI made 193 for six in 20 overs.
Veteran pacer Lakshmipathy Balaji starred with the ball picking up four for 13 from his four overs as Sunrisers Hyderabad were bowled out for 121 runs with four balls to spare.
Fast bowler Mitchell Johnson and left-arm spinner Akshar Patel picked up two wickets each.
It was another poor performance by Sunrisers Hyderabad as they struggled against pace. Lokesh Rahul was the top scorer with run-a-ball 27 while Aaron Finch made 19 and Darren Sammy 15.
Earlier put in, Kings XI Punjab made a good start, thanks to a 51-run stand between Cheteshwar Pujara (35) and Virender Sehwag (30).
Sehwag found back his old touch as he struck three sixes and two fours in his 22-ball knock. Sehwag fell early in the seventh over to leggie Amit Mishra and from then on Maxwell took over, setting the stage on fire with a blazing knock.
Maxwell was simply unstoppable as he smashed the Sunrisers bowlers to all parts of the ground.Maxwell was also adjudged as Man of the Match.
Pacer Bhuvneshwar Kumar was again the pick of the Sunrisers bowlers with three for 19 from his four overs.
Maxwell said he was simply lucky.
“Wicket was a little different tonight. I was a bit lucky. Just try and flow, just try and keep certain areas to hit, have got a simple gameplan, am trying to target certain bowlers It will be nice to get there (to a hundred). At least this time I did not get out when we were chasing. Want to score for the team,” he said.
Kings XI skipper George Bailey credited the openers Pujara and Sehwag for setting up the foundation.
“Nice to see us put a good total on the board and to have a good start from Viru and Puj. Wicket was a little hard to score on but you would not know that from the way Maxwell was batting. We know it is not going to happen every time There will be times when the other guys will have to step up,” he said.
Bailey also praised comeback man Balaji.
“Bala’s comeback tonight was outstanding. Worked hard at training. Really pleased with our bowling, not so with our fielding, but it is ok,” he said.