Maxwell hopes Kings can replicate Gujarat performance for people of Punjab

Chasing Kings XI Punjab’s 167 for 6, Chris Lynn fired on all cylinders for Kolkata Knight Riders and took the team to 61 for 1 in the powerplay overs. However, Punjab bowlers struck back, and the fantastic opening spells by the pacers were followed by a spin strangulation that restricted Kolkata to just 153 for 6. The 14-run win kept Punjab’s chances of a playoff spot alive.

Praising the team’s performance, Maxwell said, "I asked for an improved performance in the field and I got it. Axar led by example by taking those catches and with that run-out. Hopefully, we can do this in the last two games and give the people of Punjab something to cheer about."

"We backed our plans, which we have been asking of ourselves. They (the pacers at the end) were the calmest of the night. They knew what they wanted to do. The bowlers did their job, the fielders did their job. We are hanging by the skin of our teeth. It would be nice to win a toss now and then." 

Haryana leg-spinner Rahul Tewatia spent only 18 runs in four overs while picking up two wickets and that proved to be the turning point of the game. In his second over, he had Kolkata skipper Gautam Gambhir caught at midwicket and then picked up the wicket of Robin Uthappa off the very first ball he faced. While Maxwell praised the 23-year-old for his spell, he also gushed that the team were 10-15 runs short. 

"Spinners came into the game. Rahul Tewatia bowled well; he got the ball to spin (about when they came back in the game). We were able to stop the bleeding of runs, with the dot balls and conceding not too many boundaries.

"I thought the score was about par...We left ourselves little bit short. Maybe 10-15 short. We need to have the top few batters to fire and the rest to bat around," the Punjab skipper said.