Kings XI slump to record low as Supergiant seal play-off berth
Kings XI Punjab slumped to their lowest-ever Indian Premier League total as they missed out on a play-off spot at the benefit of Rising Pune Supergiant, who claimed a nine-wicket win.
Supergiant's defeat to Delhi Daredevils in the last match made their final regular-season game with Kings XI, who went into the contest trailing Pune by just two points, into a de-facto play-off for the last top-four berth.
Defeat for Supergiant, whose time in the competition will come to an end after this season, would have made Sunday's meeting their final one in the IPL.
But a dismal collapse from Kings XI left Supergiant needing just 74 to win, and they promptly chased down that scant total in just 12 overs, finishing second to set up a Qualifer 1 clash with Mumbai Indians, who topped the table.
End of group games!
— RisingPuneSupergiant (@RPSupergiants) May 14, 2017
Into the play-offs & how!
Packing bags & heading to Mumbai to play @mipaltan in the Qualifier-1. #RangWahiJungNayi pic.twitter.com/ulKVxekUIv
Kings XI got off to the worst possible start when they lost opener Martin Guptill to a first-ball duck, and they had only added 19 to the total by the time Shaun Marsh (10) holed out to Australia team-mate Steve Smith.
An excellent direct hit from man-of-the-match Jaydev Unadkat ran out Eoin Morgan for just two, and the sixth over proved a nightmare one for Kings XI as Shardul Takur accounted for both Rahul Tewatia (4) and Glenn Maxwell (0).
Wriddhiman Saha (13) had been a rare constant for Kings XI but his stay came to an end when he nicked Dan Christian (2-10) to MS Dhoni.
It was Christian who struck again to remove Axar Patel (22) - the only Kings XI batsman to top 20 runs - and the tail was quickly cleaned up by Unadkat (2-12) and Adam Zampa (2-22) - the visitors bowled out with 25 deliveries to spare.
Rahul Tripathi was the only man to fall for Pune in their reply, losing his wicket after hitting 28 off 20. However, Ajinkya Rahane (34 not out) and Smith (15no) guided Supergiant home with ease.