IPL 2014: Glenn Maxwell – Giving bowlers sleepless nights

Zee Media Bureau/Chaitan Papnai

Dubai: The Victoria-born Australian cricketer, Glenn Maxwell has created a havoc among the bowlers, who are part of the Indian Premier League`s ongoing edition. The million-dollar baby, in this edition, has shifted his base from Mumbai to Mohali. In the first match, Kings XI Punjab were up against the two-time IPL champions, Chennai Super Kings. CSK put up a mammoth total of 205 runs in front of the Punjab franchise, after winning the toss. For KXIP, the hard-hitter, Maxwell came to bat at one down. The swashbuckling batsmen started playing big shots from the word go. The right-hander destroyed the CSK bowling attack and hit them all over the park. His whirlwind knock of 95 in mere 43 balls, studded with fifteen boundaries and two sixes, helped his team chase down the huge total with seven balls to spare. For his blinder of an innings, the Australian was rewarded with the Man of the Match award. In the second game against Rajasthan Royals, Maxwell was once again in the same situation, as his team had to chase down another huge total of 191 runs. This time, he came at second down, when his team was reeling at ten for two after 2.4 overs. In-form Maxwell didn`t waste any time to set his eyes and started playing big shots. Within no time, Maxwell completed his fifty off 28 balls, laced with three fours and four sixes. The right-hander didn`t stop here and kept on scoring runs briskly. His power-packed innings came to an end in the 14th over, when he tried to launch Kane Richardson for a maximum, but couldn`t quite middle it and got out after scoring 89 off 45 balls with the help of eight boundaries and half a dozen sixes. In second game too, Maxwell was rewarded with Man of the Match award. At the moment, Maxwell is the leading run-scorer with 184 runs from two innings. Maxwell has certainly become a talking point in the IPL-7, after his two consecutive blistering knocks, which took the game away from his opponents.