India Capitals

The Kings won the toss and chose to field first, quickly regretting that decision when the Capitals got off to a magnificent start with the bat.

After losing South African Hashim Amla early for 3, former India opener Gautam Gambhir and former West Indies batsman Kirk Edwards put on 107 for the second wicket before Gambhir fell for a 35-ball 63 in the 11^th over.

Edwards went on to make the next highest score in the innings with 59 off 31 balls while Ben Dunk (37) and Ashley Nurse (34) also made solid contributions as the Capitals got what they thought would be a match-winning total of 228-8 off their 20 overs.

Anureet Singh took 4-29 from his four overs for the Kings.

Bhilwara’s opening pair of Lendl Simmons and Solomon Mire then put on only 22 for the first wicket before Simmons was first to go for 11.

It was quickly 27-2 when Tillakaratne Dilshan went for just one.

Mire and new batsman Robin Bist then put on 67 for the third wicket before Bist went in the 11^th over for 30 leaving the Kings 94-3.

Mire was next to go, 40 runs and three overs later for a well-made top score of 70 from 40 balls including nine fours and three sixes.

Eventually, the Kings were 186-7 in the 18^th over before captain Irfan Pathan performed a miracle to help them get over the line at 229-7 in 19.2 overs.

Pathan made 65* off just 19 balls including one four and nine sixes.

Isuru Udana took 3-51 from his four overs for the Capitals.

Full Scores

India Capitals 228-8 off 20 overs (Gautam Gambhir 65, Kirk Edwards 59, Ben Funk 37, Ashley Nurse 34, Anureet Singh 4-29)

Bhilwara Kings 229-7 off 19.2 overs (Solomon Mire 70, Irfan Pathan 65*, Robin Bist 30, Christopher Barnwell 22, Isuru Udana 3-51, Rusty Theron 2-33)

Powell hammered an even 100 off a mere 57 balls, which ensured that the Capitals chased down 164 with inside 18 overs at the Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium.

Scores: Southern Superstars 163-6 (20 overs); India Capitals 164-3 (17.4 overs)

The 44-year-old, who featured in two Tests and 109 One-Day Internationals for the West Indies, struck six fours and 10 sixes in the knock in which he raised his half-century in the ninth over after smashing seamer Ashok Dinda for 23 runs.

From there, things got easier for Powell, who partnered with former West Indies Test vice-captain Kirk Edwards in a 128-run, match-winning third wicket stand.

Edwards had five boundaries and a solitary six in his unbeaten 35-ball 45.

Earlier, Sri Lankan Chaturanga de Silva registered a 34-ball 56, while Shreevats Goswami and New Zealand’s Ross Taylor chipped in with 24 apiece, in getting the Superstars to what seemed a competitive total at that point.

Former West Indies off-spinner Ashley Nurse took two for 32 to assist in restricting the Superstars.

Powell’s compatriot Chadwick Walton lashed 104 off 55 deliveries for Manipal Tigers in their encounter on Friday.