Kings XI Punjab crush Northern Knights by 120 runs to enter CLT20 semifinal

Kings XI Punjab put up yet another dominating performance as they outclassed Northern Knights from New Zealand by a whopping 120 runs to enter the semi-finals in their maiden appearance in the Champions League T20, here tonight. Put into bat, Kings XI Punjab puty up a massive 215 for five, courtesy blazing half-centuries from openers Manan Vohra (65 off 32 balls) and veteran Virender Sehwag (52 off 37 balls) and century opening stand between them.

In reply, Northern Knights started off well in Powerplay overs before their chase ran out of steam to be skittled out for paltry 95 in 15.2 overs. KXIP with three wins from as many matches now have 12 points to their credit and have clinched a place in the semi-finals with four other teams fighting for the other three spots. The 'Pink Panthers' from New Zealand, who had done well at the start of the tournament, found it difficult to handle the young spin duo of leg-spinner Karanveer Singh (4/15 in 3.2 overs) and left-arm spinner Akshar Patel (2/16 in 4 overs) during the middle overs.

In the eight overs bowled between them, they snared six wickets with only 31 runs being conceded in 7.2 overs. Once batting mainstay Kane Williamson (20) was caught Wriddhiman Saha off Thisara Perera and Akshar got Anton Devcich (28) caught by Karanveer, there was no way that Knights would have chased the target.KXIP were brilliant in the field with Glenn Maxwell and Saha effecting couple of brilliant run-outs.