Amla fifty, Axar cameo takes Kings XI to 188 against Gujarat

Photo: BCCI New Delhi: Riding on yet another superb half-century by Hashim Amla, Kings XI Punjab posted a Challenging 188 for 7 against Gujarat Lions in an IPL match in Rajkot. Hashim Amla followed up his maiden IPL century with a free flowing half century. The South African right hander again created a solid launch pad for the likes of Axar Patel and Glenn Maxwell.  Amla hit 65 off 40 balls with nine boundaries and two sixes while Axar's 34 off 17 balls enabled the Kings XI Punjab to reach a fighting total after 20 overs. Shaun Marsh (30 off 24 balls) and Glenn Maxwell (31 off 18 balls) also made useful contributions. Amla started from where he had left against Mumbai Indians the other day. When Suresh Raina introduced rookie leg-spinner Shivam Agarwal, he was hit for two boundaries – a cover drive and a back cut. The Proteas legend launched a furious assault on Andrew Tye, hitting him for two boundaries and a six over long-on. An inside out six over extra cover off Ravindra Jadeja was followed by a flick as he went into the 40's. Anything outside the off-stump was driven and the ones on the legs were whipped en route his third 50-plus knock in the tournament. He put on 70 runs for the second wicket with Marsh while another 47 runs were added with skipper Maxwell. Amla was looking good for another hundred before leg- spinner Agarwal held on to a low return catch. Maxwell, who had hit three sixes and looked set for a few more, was out due to lack of discretion while trying a reverse sweep off Jadeja, which went all awry. Axar's cameo, which included two sixes off Dwayne Smith, took Kings closer to the 190-run mark. For Lions, Tye (2/35) and Jadeja (1/32) had the best figures. Basil Thampi (0/44) was punished for erring in length.