Valthaty powers Kings XI to crush Chargers

HYDERABAD: Paul Valthaty took four wickets and then combined with Adam Gilchrist for some sensational hitting as Kings XI Punjab comfortably beat Deccan Chargers by eight wickets in their Indian Premier League match here Saturday. Chasing a victory target of 166, Kings XI Punjab raced to the target in 17.4 overs.

Valthaty (75) and Gilchrist (61) smacked 136 runs in 14 overs in an explosive opening partnership, tearing apart the Deccan Chargers' attack.

Mumbai's Valthaty, who came in the limelight with his unbeaten 120 against Super Kings in the last match, was having a ball in the middle. He first claimed four wickets with his medium pace (4/29), restricting Deccan Chargers to 165/8, and then starred with the bat with another match-winning knock. He is now tournament's leading scorer with 201 runs from three matches - sharing the honour with Sachin Tendulkar.

It was breathtaking hitting from Gilchrist (61) and new sensation Valthaty who ripped apart an attack comprising Dale Steyn, Ishant Sharma, Manpreet Gony and Amit Mishra.

Valthaty sent the ball soaring over the stands or racing to the ropes whenever he found the room to free his arms. Sometimes he would not even spare good length deliveries and dispatched them with disdain. Five sixes and eight fours came in his 47-ball blitz. The bowlers could do nothing but to watch him with awe.

Gilchrist hit two fours off Steyn in the first over and then together with Valthaty displayed some dazzling strokes. Valthaty continued from where he left off and showed that he was not a one match wonder. He ferociously slashed Sharma for a six over third man in the 4th over and after that spared no bowler.

Gony was in the firing zone in the next over as Valthaty hit him for two fours and a six in consecutive balls and went on to hit 22 runs in the over. Gilchrist punished Daniel Christian, depositing him for a six deep in the stands and then hit two fours. The Australian reached his half century with another massive six off Mishra.

Valthaty brought up his 50 with a straight six off Jean Paul Duminy. Gilchirst, who hit five fours and three sixes, was dismissed by Mishra caught by Ravi Teja at deep square leg.

Valthaty was also out attempting to hit Mishra but holing out to Sharma in the deep. Abhishek Nayar (13) and Dinesh Karthik (3) then saw the team through.

Earlier, Valthaty struck crucial blows with the ball to peg back Deccan Chargers batting. Shikhar Dhawan (45) and Kumar Sangakkara (35) put up 75 runs for the second wicket to guide the innings.

After Sangakkara was dismissed by Piyush Chawla, Valthaty ran through the middle order. Christian then hit 30 off 14 balls to give a late thrust to the innings.