Cricket: "Bopara makes Punjab break the jinx with an easy win against Bangalore"

Semi-finalist in the first version of IPL, Kings XI Punjab started there camapaign in second version rather dissapointing with 2 losses. They registered their first win againt Bangalore at Kingsmead Durban with an easy 7 wicket win.

Royal Challengers Bangalore won the toss and elected to bat first. They had a disappointing start when they lost Uthappa caught by yuvraj off irfan for a first ball duck. This time around ryder didnt dissappoint (Remember he was out first ball duck in either of his first two matches) and scored a quick fire 32 of 21 balls with 6 hits to the fence before yorked by Abdullah in 6th over when the score was reading 48. Two balls later pieterson followed him giving Abdullah his second wicket in the same over. Dravid too followed suit with a sedade innings of 10 from 13 balls. Dravid wicket had bring taylor to the crease and then the run flow started. Taylor with kallis blasted the Punjab bowlers to all parts of the ground, they added 60 runs in exactly 6 overs. Kallis was caught by jayawardene giving Abdullah his third wicket. Kallis made a gritty 62 of 46 balls with 5 fours and 2 sixes and Taylor made 35 of 22 balls with 4 fours and 2 sixes. The lower order chipped in with useful contributions. For Punjab Abdullah and Irfan were the stike bowlers with each taking 4 and 3 wickets respectively. Bangalore made a commanding toal of 168 in their stipulated 20 overs.

Punjab started their chase brilliantly with their openers Goel and Bopara scoring 52 f 6.4 overs. Goel fell shortly when there was a miscommunication between them and fell short of his crease. Then sangakkara fell to kumble before adding a quick fire 40 runs for the second wicket with bopara. Sangakkara scored 26 of 18 balls with 2 fours and 1 six. with the fall of second wicket yuvraj came to the crease and made sure that there were no more casualties and scored 66 runs with bopara before bopara was out caught to Ryder of kallis trying to clear the boundary. Bopara made a fantastic 84 of 59 balls with 4 fours and 5 sixes. yuvraj made a classy 30 runs of 17 balls with 3 fours and 1 six and completed the formalities for punjab with jayawardene and won the match for Punjab with 1 over to spare.

Man of the match was awarded to Ravi Bopara for his match winning fantastic knock of 84 of 59 balls.

Scores: Kings XI Punjab 173 for 3 (Bopara 84) beat Bangalore Royal Challengers 168 for 9 (Kallis 62, Abdulla 4-31, Pathan 3-35) by seven wickets