KXIP look to make amends against CSK

Chennai, Apr 27: Kings XI Punjab would look to put behind the disappointment of their dismal performance against Mumbai Indians in the last game and make amends when they take on Chennai Super Kings in their Indian Premier League match, here today.

Punjab would be eager to forget their last match when they were thrashed by the Mumbai Indians as Ambati Rayudu (34) and Robin Peterson (16) creamed leg-spinner Piyush Chawla for 27 runs in the penultimate over to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat.

But it would be a difficult proposition for the low-on-confidence Punjab outfit to tame the ‘Men in Yellow’ in their own den.

Not just their last match, as it is, Kings XI team’s performance has been cause of worry.

Having lost five of their eight matches so far in the tournament, they are fully aware that they would have to play out of their skins if they intend to topple the hosts.

Their misery is compounded by the absence of skipper Adam Gilchrist, out with an hamstring injury, who is still a doubtful starter for tomorrow’s match.

But KXIP would be banking heavily on stand-in-skipper David Hussey, whose unbeaten 68-run knock in the last match helped Kings XI post a competitive total against Mumbai Indians.

Besides Hussey, another Australian Shaun Marsh has also been a amongst runs but the other batsmen require to take the centre stage in order to give some boost to Kings XI’s batting.

They would also be hoping for the bowlers, especially Chawla, to raise their game and deliver.

Resurgent RCB to take on KKR at Eden

Kolkata, April 27: A cracker of a contest is on the cards when a resurgent Royal Challengers Bangalore take on Kolkata Knight Riders in their return leg Indian Premier League fixture at Eden Gardens here tomorrow.

Both the teams’ last fixtures at their respective home grounds were washed out and they would pray that the weather God does not play spoilsport again tomorrow, even as the local Met department has forecast rain and thundershowers in next 48 hours.

The Bangalore outfit might have lost to KKR in the first leg but their campaign was back on track after three wins on the trot and both teams stay equal on league table with nine points from eight matches each at half-way stage of IPL 5.

One man KKR would need to watch out for would be Chris Gayle who has been in ominous form at the top of RCB batting and he would look to blow away the consistent Kolkata attack, something he had done in his last outing at the Eden, smashing a 55-ball 102 not out with seven sixes sent out of the park.

After a quiet start, Gayle has hit form with a 48-ball 81 studded with eight sixes in RCB’s win over Pune Warriors. He followed it up with another sizzling knock of 56-ball 87 in his side’s win over Kings XI Punjab.

Against his former franchise that chose not to retain him after the third season, the explosive Caribbean opener, who has recovered from an upset stomach, would look to prove a point. With A B de Villiers and Tillakaratne Dilshan in equally devastating form, the RCB batting would look to post or chase down a big total.

Skipper Daniel Vettori has recovered from a niggle that had forced him to sit out in their rain-marred last match against Chennai Super Kings.

One area of concern for RCB though was that their foreign recruits have been instrumental in the side’s wins and their domestic players like Virat Kohli, Saurabh Tiwary, Mayank Agarwal and Mohammad Kaif were yet to hit form.