On the back of Solomon Mire's explosive innings of 82 runs off 38 balls and clinical bowling display, Gautam Gambhir's India Capitals schooled Irfan Pathan's Bhilwara Kings by 78 runs on September 21 (Wednesday). Irfan's decision to ask India Capitals to bat first after winning the toss backfired as Bhilwara Kings' bowlers were punished severely for their lackluster effort with the ball.
Gautam Gambhir's India Capitals
Tino Best gave a good start to the Kings as he dismissed captain Gambhir (12 runs off nine balls) in the third over of the match. What ensued after Gambhir's departure was pure carnage from the willow of Mire, who found an able ally in his countryman Hamilton Masakadza (48 runs off 30 balls).
The duo combined for a 105-run stand for the second wicket and pulverised Bhilwara Kings bowlers. Yusuf Pathan ended Masakadza's stay in the middle but Mire was in the mood to destroy Kings' attack. Before being dismissed by Yusuf Patahn, Mire belted seven fours and six sixes and it was because of his tremendous knock that India Capitals posted a monumental score of 198/5 in 20 overs.
Yusuf Pathan was the pick of all Kings' bowlers and finished with figures of 3/28 in four overs. Best and Tim Bresnan chipped in with a wicket each.
In reply, Bhilwara's innings never took off as they kept losing wickets at regular intervals. Tanmay Srivastava, who came in to bat at number seven, top scored for the Kings (27 runs off 30 balls). India Capitals' bowlers were clinical in their job and bagged all the ten wickets with four balls to spare in Kings' innings, who were bundled out for 120 runs.
Pankaj Singh, Pravin Tambe and Rajat Bhatia bagged two wickets each while Farveez Maharoof, Liam Plunkett, Ashley Nurse and Praveen Gupta bagged a wicket each.
