Maxwell fires Kings XI Punjab to six-wicket win over Rising Pune Supergiant

Photo: BCCI New Delhi: A captain’s knock by Glenn Maxwell and some disciplined bowling effort led Kings XI Punjab to a six-wicket win over Rising Pune Supergiant in their first of IPL 10 in Indore. Kings XI made short work of the 164-run target as Maxwell and David Miller (30 n.o off 27 balls) took them home with an over to spare. It was a similar tale in both the innings. Like Pune, Kings XI also lost their first four inside 90 runs but it was some scintillating display of batsmanship from the newly appointed captain Maxwell that led the home side to victory. Maxwell's fireworks came after Ben Stokes led Rising Pune Supergiant's recovery with a blistering 50 off 332 balls, helping his team post 163 for six. With the win, Kings XI have begun the competition on a promising note after finishing at the bottom in the previous two editions. It was the first loss this season for Pune, who had beaten Mumbai Indians in their tournament opener on Thursday. With Kings XI 73 for two in 10 overs and needing another 91 for victory, the match was hanging in balance. Then Maxwell came and ran away with the match with some brutal hitting. The Australian, made captain of the side ahead of established names like Eoin Morgan, hammered four sixes and as many fours to begin his IPL campaign in style. Miller was mostly a spectator in this match-winning stand with Maxwell, who punished spinners as much as the pacers. The Australian even did not spare Pune's most impressive bowler Imran Tahir, hitting him for consecutive sixes in the 16th over that virtually sealed the match in Kings XI's favour. Earlier, after the fall of the top order that left Pune at 49 for three in the ninth over, Stokes showed why he commanded a Rs 14.5 crore price at the auction. He got good support from Manoj Tiwary (40 off 23). Tiwary and Daniel Christian, who both remained unbeaten, took Mohit and Sandeep Sharma to the cleaners at the end of the innings, collecting 30 off the last 12 balls.