Hashim Amla’s long-awaited IPL debut lasted five balls, when he was run out for one as the Kings XI fought their way to a nine-run win against the Delhi Daredevils.

Called up for the injured Australian Shaun Marsh, Amla never looked comfortable, despite having an average of 77 in T20s this year. He could have gone first ball the previous over from his erstwhile Proteas teammate Chris Morris, who missed a quick run-out chance.

But the following over, Amla chopped a delivery to backward point and set off for a single that wasn’t there, being sent back by Marcus Stoinis. Zaheer Khan sent a pinpoint return to Quinton de Kock which left Amla some way short.

Nonetheless, the Kings did well to post a challenging total of 181-5. thanks to some big hitting in the last five overs. Stoinis had registered a fifty but when the time for the push came, the Kings were 119-3. Wriddhimam Saha (52 off 33), Glenn Maxwell (16/11), David Miller (11/6) and a massive 16 off five balls from Axar Patel took the required run-rate to above nine.

The Daredevils will be wondering how they lost this one, especially after De Kock, who scored 52 off 30 balls (6×4, 2×6) and Sanju Samson (49)  posted 51 in the powerplay. Thereafter, they were steadily pinned back and wickets fell at crucial moments. After Samson went at 121-2 in the 14th over, there was no stand greater than 19.

The Kings, rooted to the bottom of the able have struggled all season and two matches ago sacked Miller as their captain. This will have given them some relief.

The Daredevils, lost a low-scoring win last time out and this time chose to bench JP Duminy, their captain in the last game. This was an another opportunity lost.

Kings XI v Daredevils scoreboard

Photo: BCCI