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Virender Sehwag's Gujarat Giants suffered a massive 57-run loss at the hands of Irfan Pathan's Bhilwara Kings at Barabati Stadium, Cuttack. Giants' bowlers were smashed around the park and against a huge 223-run target, Giants could not pose a challenge in the run chase as it turned out to be a one-sided affair.
After winning the toss, Sehwag opted to field first. Openers Morne van Wyk and William Porterfield were menacing in the powerplay overs as they scoreboard reach 76/0 after fielding restrictions were lifted. Porterfield got to his half-century in the eighth over. KP Appanna provided the breakthrough in the 10th over. Porterfield scored 64 runs from just 33 deliveries including 10 fours and two sixes. In the same over, Van Wyk got to his half-century from 26 deliveries. In the next over, Graeme Swann got rid of Wyk who hit four fours and as many sixes in his 28-ball 50.
The wickets of both openers did not have much effect on the scoring rate. Irfan promoted himself up the order and scored 34 runs from 23 deliveries before getting out to Ashoke Dinda in the 17th over. From the other end, Jesal Karia smashed bowlers. Yusuf Pathan joined the party as well and hit two sixes in his unbeaten 5-ball 14. Karia missed his half-century as he got out in the final over. He scored 43 off 29 deliveries including five fours and one six. In the last two balls Rajesh Bishnoi joined the party too and hit two consecutive sixes to help Kings post 222/4 on the board.
Chasing 223 was always going to be a daunting task. Opener Kevin O'Brien lost his wicket to Fidel Edwards' first delivery. Chris Gayle struggled to score in the powerplay overs whereas Sehwag infused some life in the game with few hits. As Gayle played too many dot balls, Sehwag succumbed under pressure and got out to Karia in the seventh over. Sehwag scored 27 runs off 20 deliveries including three fours and one six.
In the eighth over S Sreesanth struck twice to remove Lendl Simmons (1) and Elton Chigumbura (2). In the next over, Gayle's troubled stay at the crease was ended by Karia. The southpaw could score just 15 runs from 20 deliveries. Sreesanth got another wicket in his next over as he sent Perera back to the pavillion. Joginder Sharma (10), Swann (5) could not make a mark either. In the 14th over, Giants had lost eight wickets for 96 and feared getting all out.
It was Yashpal Singh who saved Giants from further embarrassment. Yashpal took on the bowlers and hit six fours and three sixes in his 29-ball 57. He shared a crucial 54-run partnership with Rayad Emrit (19) which was ended by Edwards. Yashpal got to his half-century in the penultimate over. Giants got all out for 165 as Tino Best got Yashpal's wicket. On the other end, Appanna remained unbeaten for six off five deliveries.
After the big win, Kings climbed up to the second spot whereas Giants slipped to the third.
