Glenn Maxwell’s 45-ball 89: The Punjabi all-rounder had scored his second IPL half-century to seal a daunting target against Royals.
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On this day in 2014, Kings XI Punjab all-rounder Glenn Maxwell scored his second half-century in the Indian Premier League to seal a 192-run target against Rajasthan Royals during the seventh match of the seventh season of the tournament.
After the then Punjab captain George Bailey had won the toss and chose to field, RR scored a formidable 191/5 in 20 overs on the back of individual half-centuries from wicket-keeper batsman Sanju Samson (52) and captain Shane Watson (50).
With KXIP reduced to 10/2 in the third over, Maxwell entered to pretty much change the course of the match. It was in the fifth over that Maxwell initiated his onslaught against countryman Kane Richardson by hitting him for a four and a six.
Having scored 39/2 in the powerplay, Kings XI required almost 11 runs every over to win the match. Opening batsman Cheteshwar Pujara’s strike rate wandering in the 70s further make things difficult for Maxwell.
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However, the Australian player stood tall on his potential as he hit another country in James Faulkner for two sixes in the first over post the powerplay. With Punjab requiring 123 runs in the last 10 overs, a well-set Maxwell put on display courage and innovation as he hit RR all-rounder Rajat Bhatia for three reverse sweeps in the 11th over.
Glenn Maxwell’s 45-ball 89
Having completed his half-century, an unstoppable Maxwell toyed around with Rajasthan’s bowlers and field placements to continue the assault. Having hit four fours off Royals’ Dhawan Kulkarni in the 12th over, Maxwell pummeled a couple of sixes off Bhatia in the following over.
It was on the penultimate delivery of the 14th over that Maxwell mis-timed a delivery from Richardson to get caught at long-on by Steve Smith. Maxwell, who scored 89 (54) with the help of eight fours and six sixes, had performed his job but Kings XI still needed 65 runs in the last six overs to win the match.
It was at this point in time that Punjab’s move to send David Miller over George Bailey reaped fruits as the southpaw scored a quickfire fifth IPL half-century to seal the chase in the penultimate over. A match-winning 67-run stand for the fourth wicket alongside Pujara (40) saw Miller scoring 51 (19) with the help of six sensational sixes.
It is worth mentioning that Maxwell (95) and Miller (54*) had propelled KXIP to chase a 206-run target on the back of a match-winning 115-run stand for the fourth wicket two nights ago against Chennai Super Kings in Abu Dhabi.
