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Miller skips post-match presentation after another embarrassing loss
April 26, 2016

IMAGE: Kings XI Punjab skipper David Miller. Photograph: BCCI

Kings XI Punjab skipper David Miller gave the post-match presentation ceremony a miss after his team suffered another stinging loss in the ninth edition of Indian Premier League.

Punjab lost to Mumbai Indians by 25 runs in Mohali on Monday – it was their fifth defeat in six matches.

- Scorecard

Miller had won the toss for the first time this season and put Mumbai in to bat. Later, chasing a stiff target of 190, Kings XI Punjab were restricted to 164 for seven in the stipulated 20 overs.

While the reason for Miller's unavailability was not known, one can only assume that the embarrassment of a having a record this bad would not have gone down well with the Kings XI Punjab captain.

Coach Sanjay Bangar represented Punjab in place of Miller.

 

Citing poor bowling effort as a cause for the defeat, Bangar said: "I thought we bowled pretty poorly in this game. 190 on the track on the large outfield was always going to be challenging. 50-50 things haven't gone our way. No excuses for a poor bowling effort."

The positive aspects from the match that the Kings XI Punjab could take home was that Glenn Maxwell finally found form as he top-scored with 56 off 39 balls, hitting five boundaries and a six. Shaun Marsh made 45 off 34 balls with the help of three fours and a six.

With those batting performances in mind, Bangar still harbours hopes of a revival, "Maxwell got over that 10-ball barrier and showed us what he is capable of. We have to be positive, we have a break of about 5 days from now."

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