Chawla hits 20 of last over as Punjab score 178 for 6

Mohali, May 3 (UNI) Watched by a full house, Piyush Chawla smashed Ishan Sharma for 20 runs in the last over as Kings XI Punjab piled up 178 for 6 against Kolkata Knight Riners at the Punjab Cricket Association Stadium here tonight.

In the last over, Ishan bowled to Irfan Pathan (24 not out) for one leg bye. Then Chawla was in full flow as he hit the Kolkata Rider's fastest bowler Ishan Sharma for three fours, one six at extra cover and a two. The sequence was 1, 4, 4, 2, 4, 6. Chawla remained not out on 21.

Umar Gul bowed a good spell to dismiss Sri Lanka's Kumar Sangakkara (28, 5x4s) and Mahela Jaywardene (10) and gave just 27 runs from four overs.

Kings XI Punjab captain Yuvraj Singh won the toss and elected to bat. Australian Simon Marsh (40, 5x4s, 1x6) and Jamesh Hopes opened the innings. They had scored 28 runs before Hopes was caught by Hodge of Ashoke Dinda for 18 runs. Sangakkara joined Marsh and they carried the total to 82, with a partnership of 54 runs for the second wicket. Injured Sangakkara batted with a runner. Yuvraj Singh (17, 2x4s, 1x6) was run out by Saha.

SCOREBOARD Kings XI Punjab: Simon Marsh st Saha b Hussey 40 James Hopes c Brad Hodge b Ashoke Dinda 18 Kumar Sangakkara b Gul 28 Yuvraj Singh round out (Saha) 17 Mahela Jayawardene c Ganguly bt Gul 10 Karan Goel run out (Das) 6 Irfan Pathan not out 24 Piyush Chawla not out 21.

Extras (nb 1, lb 5, w 4, b 4) 14.

Total (for 6 wickets) 178.

Fall of wickets: 1-28, 2-82, 3-98, 4-102, 5-106, 6-155.

Bowling: Ishan Malhotra 4-0-41-0 Ajit Agarkar 3-0-26-0 Ashoke Dinda 3-024-1 Mohd Hafeez 3-0-28-0 David Hussey 3-0-23-1 Umar Gul 4-0-27-2.

UNI XC PDT KP2334