Axar Patel did the star turn as Kings XI Punjab rode on the left-arm spinner's hat trick to upset table topper Gujarat Lions by 23 runs in the Indian Premier League (IPL) here Sunday. This was the first hat trick of the 9th edition of the league. Invited to bat by Gujarat skipper Suresh Raina, Punjab was all out for 154 in the stipulated 20 overs, but restricted the opposition to 131 for 9 in front of their home crowd at the Saurashtra Cricket Association Stadium. Appointed captain midway into the cash-rich tournament in place of David Miller, Murali Vijay led from the front with a fluent knock of 55. Axar then spun a web around the Gujarat batsmen and finished with figures of 4-21 in his four overs. Punjab now has four points from seven matches, while the Lions stayed at the top with six victories and two losses from eight appearances. Brief scores: Kings XI Punjab 154 in 19.5 overs (Murali Vijay 55, Wriddhiman Saha 33; Shivil Kaushik 3-20, Praveen Kumar 2-25, Dwayne Bravo 2-33) beat Gujarat Lions: 131-9 (James Faulkner 32; Axar Patel 4-21, Mohit Sharma 3-32). Mumbai crushes Pune Mumbai Indians led by Rohit Sharma's unbeaten 85 beat Pune Supergiants by eight wickets in the second match of the evening. Chasing a target of 160, Mumbai reached home in 18.3 overs courtesy Rohit and Jos Buttler (27 no). Rohit came up with another impressive knock which included eight boundaries and three sixes, as Mumbai chased down the total posting with nine balls to spare. After the win, Mumbai climbs to second spot on the table with 10 points from nine games. Brief scores: Mumbai Indians 161 for 2 (Rohit 85*, Buttler 27) beat Rising Pune Supergiants 159 for 5 (Tiwary 57, Smith 45; Bumrah 3-29) by 8 wickets. Warner lifts Hyderabad over Bangalore Swashbuckling opener David Warner slammed a whirlwind 50-ball 92 to set up a comfortable 15-run win for Sunrisers Hyderabad over Royal Challengers Bangalore in Hyderabad Saturday. Warner hit nine fours and five sixes and shared a 124-run stand for the second wicket with Kane Williamson (50) to power Hyderabad to an imposing 194-5 after they were inserted by Bangalore following a delayed start due to rain. The host then returned to restrict Bangalore for 179 for 6 and notch up its fourth win in seven matches. It was RCB's fourth loss in six matches. For Hyderabad, all the five bowlers — Ashish Nehra (1-32), Bhuvneshwar Kumar (1-36), Mustafizur Rahman (1-34), Barinder Sran (1-36) and Moises Henriques (1-40) picked up a wicket each. Brief scores: Sunrisers Hyderabad 194-5 in 20 overs (David Warner 92; Kane Richardson 2-45) beat Royal Challengers Bangalore 179-6 in 20 overs (Lokesh Rahul 51; Ashish Nehra 1-32). Marsh out with side strain All-rounder Mitchell Marsh will return home from the Indian Premier League (IPL) with a side strain and will be assessed ahead of Australia's tour of West Indies next month, Cricket Australia (CA) said Sunday. Marsh is the third big casualty at Rising Pune Supergiants, who have already lost former England batsman Kevin Pietersen (calf) and South African Faf du Plessis (finger) to injuries. Australia will compete in a June 5-21 tri-nation one-day series in West Indies, also involving South Africa. — Agencies
