KKR restrict KXIP to 138/8 despite Marsh heroics

Kolkata Knight Riders produced a disciplined bowling effort to restrict Kings XI Punjab to a modest 138 for eight in their Indian Premier League (IPL) match here on Tuesday .

Shaun Marsh top-scored for the hosts with an unbeaten 56 off 41 balls. The Australian struck five boundaries and a six during his stay in the middle in a rather mediocre outing by the Kings XI Punjab batting line-up.

For KKR, Sunil Narine finished with impressive figures of 2/22, while Morne Morkel had 4/27 from their quota of four overs each.

There was wicket apiece for Umesh Yadav, Piyush Chawla and Yusuf Pathan.

The total could have been much less had it not been for the 18 runs Marsh and Kyle Abbott (12 not off six balls) plundered in the innings’s last over bowled by Andre Russell.

Invited to bat after the coin landed in favour KKR skipper Gautam Gambhir, Kings IX Punjab struggled to get going in the beginning, losing Manan Vohra (8) with just 21 runs on the board in the fourth over.

Experienced opener Murali Vijay spent some time in the middle, but could not manage more than 26 runs in 22 balls before being foxed by a Piyush Chawla googly.

Wicketkeeper Wriddhiman Saha (8) did not last long and became Sunil Narine’s first victim since his comeback as the ace spinner had the batsman caught behind.

The hosts were dealt a body blow when off-spinner Yusuf Pathan had skipper David Miller (6) caught behind with a deliver that cramped him for room. 1st innings report