Struggling Kings XI Punjab captain KL Rahul on Thursday rued the early run-out of Mayank Agarwal, saying it was a disaster for his side in their pursuit of a stiff 202-run target against Sunrisers Hyderabad in an Indian Premier League match in Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Thursday. KXIP were all out for 132 in 16.5 overs to slump to a 69-run loss, their fifth defeat — and fourth on the trot — in six matches to remain at the bottom of the IPL points table.
KXIP made a disastrous start to their run chase as they lost two wickets inside five overs. In-form Agarwal was run-out in a horrible mix-up with Rahul in the second over itself, while Prabhsimran Singh looked promising for a while but got out for 11.
“When we lose wickets in the power-play, it’s gonna be tough, especially when we’re playing only six batters. Getting Mayank run-out wasn’t the ideal start, it was a disaster,” a disappointed Rahul said in the post-match presentation.
“It was also one of those days when everything we hit in the air went to the fielders.”
KXIP made amends of their woeful death overs bowling by conceding just 41 runs in the last five overs and taking six wickets in the process with leg-spinner Ravi Bishnoi — 3/29 — triggering a batting collapse of SRH.
And Rahul was full of praise for his bowlers, saying: “The last five games we struggled with our death bowling, but that was a positive today. The boys showed courage and pulled things back, you expect them to score 230-plus after that start.”
