Maxwell gets Kings XI home after Stokes half-century
Glenn Maxwell led Kings XI Punjab to a six-wicket victory in his first game as captain as Rising Pune Supergiant all-rounder Ben Stokes' maiden Indian Premier League half-century was in vain.
Australia all-rounder Maxwell made his first Test century during the recent series defeat to India and was in the runs again on Saturday, making an unbeaten 44 from only 20 balls to bring Pune back down to earth after their win over Mumbai Indians.
England Test vice-captain Stokes, the most expensive player from overseas to play in the IPL, scored exactly 50 off just 32 balls in only his second game in the tournament as Pune posted 163-6 in Indore.
Imran Tahir (2-29) was impressive once again, striking twice to reduce Kings XI to 85-4, but Maxwell and David Miller (30 off 27) saw the hosts home with an over to spare.
#IPL Match 4 - @lionsdenkxip 164/4 (19 ov) beat @RPSupergiants 163/6 by 6 wkts. Relive the game here - https://t.co/JApMqEckkZ #KXIPvRPS pic.twitter.com/uKzYu6diif
— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) April 8, 2017
Sandeep Sharman (2-33) cleaned Mayank Agarwal up in an excellent first over and Pune were in trouble on 49-3 when in-form Australia captain Steve Smith was dismissed by compatriot Marcus Stoinis.
Stokes showed why Pune forked out INR 14.5 crore (£1.7million) - the second-highest fee in IPL history - with a mature knock, working the singles and also smashing three sixes.
Manoj Tiwary also made a rapid 40 not out off just 23 deliveries after Axar Patel got rid of Stokes, but Pune's total was not enough.
The runs flowed for Kings XI, wooden spoon holders last season, but South Africa spinner Tahir bowled Wriddhiman Saha with a wrong-un to leave them 49-2 in the sixth over.
Stokes took a catch at deep cover to snare Hashim Amla (28) off teenager Rahul Chahar, yet they were unable to getting rid of Maxwell and Miller.
The clean-hitting duo put on 79 for the fifth wicket to secure the victory, with the skipper clearing the ropes four times and Miller twice.