Kings XI Punjab thrash Pune Warriors by eight wickets

NEW DELHI  - Manan Vohra's unbeaten 43 and discipline bowling display helped Kings XI Punjab register a comfortable 8-wicket victory over Pune Warriors India in the 6th match of the IPL 6 at Subrata Roy Sahara Stadium in Pune.This is the first time in IPL history that Punjab opened their campaign with a victory as they have never won their opening game in the previous five editions. Punjab chased down 100-run target in 12.2 overs.Vohra added 58-run stand for the second wicket with Mandeep Singh to ensure Punjab victory against Pune in their own backyard. Punjab got off to a brisk start as Adam Gilchrist and Mandeep Singh added 21 in 2.2 overs. The visitors raced to fifty in the fifth over with a flurry of boundaries by Manan Vohra and Singh.Pune's skipper Angelo Mathews struck to give Kings XI Punjab first blow by dismissing Gilchrist, who smashed two fours and a six. Earlier, Kings XI Punjab bowlers fired in unison to help their team restrict Pune Warriors India to 99/9. Abhishek Nayar waged a lone battle as he remained unbeaten on 25 to take Pune to near 100-run mark.Pune Warriors were never in a match as they lost wickets at regular intervals. Pune's decision to bat first backfired badly as half of their side was already sent back to the pavilion at the score of 38 in 10 overs.Nothing was going in Pune's way when Ross Taylor heaved it towards fine leg where Gurkeerat Singh dived to his right and took the blinder with one hand to leave the hosts tottering at 53/6 in 13.3 overs. Warriors lost their third wicket in the form of Marlon Samuels, who got run out by Piyush Chawla. In the next over, Chawla gave Punjab another success by removing Robin Uthappa.Kings XI Punjab pacers Praveen Kumar and Azhar Mahmood struck to give Pune Warriors early jolts. Praveen struck in the first of the innings to give Punjab first breakthrough by dismissing Pandey for nought. Mahmood removed Tirumalasetti Suman to leave Pune struggling at 21/2 in five overs after their skipper Angelo Mathews opted to bat in their second match of the tournament. Pune dealt a big blow as Yuvraj Singh is out with back strain and T Suman replaced him.

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