Match – 52nd IPL 2014 – Kings XI Punjab vs Rajasthan Royals
Date – Fri May 23
Time – 20:00 local | 14:30 GMT
Venue – Punjab C.A. Stadium, Mohali
Toss – Rajasthan Royals elected to field
Result – Kings XI Punjab won by 16 runs
Man of the match – Shaun Marsh

Rajasthan Royals lost to Kings XI Punjab today and thus lost their chance to assure a place in playoffs. Now they need to beat Mumbai Indians on Sunday to make it to the playoffs. On the other hand, KXIP have extended their lead and will be the table toppers.

Chasing 180 to win and make sure they qualify for playoffs, Rajasthan Royals openers Ajinkya Rahane and Karun Nair added 21 runs after which Nair became victim of Balaji. Rahane and Sanju Samson then took the score past 50 and just when the duo looked settled Rishi Dhawan came to bowl and got the priced wicket of Rahane and Shane Watson on consecutive balls. Royals were reduced to 56/3 in 8.2 overs. Sanju Samson and Stuart Binny had a huge responsibility on their shoulders but excellent bowling by KXIP never allowed them easy runs. Stuart Binny fell after scoring just 7 to Karanveer who also accounted for Sanju Samson (30 off 29 bals). Royals were struggling at 83/5 in 13.1 overs and needed some one to play a cameo. Brad Hodge and James Faulkner came to the team’s rescue and gave a scare to KXIP. Hodge scoed 31 in 18 balls before falling to Patel where as James Faulkner scored 35 off 13 balls and kept Royals in the hunt. But finally Royals needed 31 runs from the last over which proved to too much and they got down fighting and scored 163/8 and thus lost the match by 16 runs.

Earlier Rajasthan Royals won the toss and elected to field. Kings XI Punjab openers, Virender Sehwag and Manan Vohra added 24 runs in 2.2 overs for the first wicket stand. Sehwag was the first to go after scoring 18 off 8 balls. Vohra and Marsh then took the team score past 50. On the score of 54, Vohra got run out after scoring 25. Shaun Marsh and Wriddhiman Saha then added 59 runs in 6.4 overs to take the score to 113. Marsh was the next to fall after scoring 35 ball 40. Saha, Miller and Bailey chipped in with useful 27, 29 and 26 respectively to help KXIP post a total of 179/4 in 20 overs.

Match – 52nd IPL 2014 – Kings XI Punjab vs Rajasthan Royals Scorecard