IPL 2017, Match 8, KXIP v RCB: CT Player of the Match - Hashim Amla

Hashim Amla shined with the bat with a classy half-century to guide Kings XI Punjab to an easy 8-wicket win against RCB.

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Hashim Amla and Glenn Maxwell IPL
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Hashim Amla and Glenn Maxwell celebrate the victory. (Photo Source: Twitter)

Hashim Amla anchored through the Kings XI Punjab innings to give them their second consecutive win in as many games. Kings XI Punjab rocketed to the Number 2 spot in the points table after they crushed RCB by 8 wickets at Indore.

Amla began his innings with a boundary off the first ball he faced. Though Punjab were chasing only 149 to win, such totals often get tricky but Amla made sure there were no hiccups with a classy unbeaten 58 out of the 38 balls he faced. Big hitting is normally not associated with Amla’s staunch game but the 34-year old smashed 3 hits across the ropes along with 4 serene boundaries. This was his 2nd IPL fifty in his 8th game.

Making the fielding lapse count

Amla was dropped very early in the innings – on 20 when he miscued a hook shot off Tymal Mills which burst through the hands of Stanlake at fine leg. The end result was a six but Amla could well have walked back to the dugout as it was a fairly simple catch. Big players make most of the chances provided to them and Amla did exactly that.

The great aspect of his innings was the mix of attack and defense. He picked the right balls to attack and kept the good ones out. Amla showed what experience can bring to the table as he milked the balls away to rotate the strike. The Proteas star batsman was keen to finish the game early in quest of getting a high net run-rate which might come into play later in the tournament.

Taking Chahal on

Yuzvendra Chahal has had a couple of great seasons in the IPL and has been in exceptional form this season as well. This did not deter the opening batsman as he took on Chahal, even when he had dismissed Axar Patel in the very over, and smashed him for a six over his head. It was a master class on how to play spin bowling. He went for a repeat in Chahal’s next over but this one sailed over the log on as it was pitched on middle-leg. Amla brings so much class even in a T20 game and it is a good ploy by Punjab to have him playing straight away.

Amla brought up his half-century in the 12th over as he guided a short delivery by Watson to the fine leg boundary. The win was more or less imminent but Amla made sure that the chase was smooth and quick.

The stylish right-hander has improved his T20 game in the past 18 months. This was his tenth fifty in 28 T20 games since January 2016. That is a decent record to have against your name.

Due to his sublime batting, Hashim Amla is the CT Player of the Match and is awarded a 4 out of 5 rating for his unbeaten 58.

 

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