‘Game of Inches’ – Glenn Maxwell ‘shattered’ after KXIP’s agonising defeat against KKR

Glenn Maxwell has been under all sorts of pressure in the 2020 Indian Premier League (IPL). After a string of failures, he was terribly low on confidence and even the netizens on social media platforms wanted him to be dropped. The Victorian hasn’t been striking the ball cleanly either. Along with a dismal average, the big-hitting Maxwell hasn’t had an impressive strike-rate as well.

However, he had every chance of making amends in Kings XI Punjab’s (KXIP) previous match against the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) on Saturday, October 10. At the Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi, Maxwell came to bat in the 19th over when the Mohali-based franchise needed 16 runs to win off eight balls to secure only their second victory of the IPL’s ongoing edition.

Glenn Maxwell falls short

He didn’t get the strike until the last over when KXIP required 14 runs for the triumph. He was in for a tough task as Sunil Narine, KKR’s spin veteran, was into the attack. Maxwell started with a couple and a dot followed by a boundary that he smashed, switching his stance. After he got a leg bye, Narine accounted for Mandeep Singh’s wicket in the penultimate delivery.

It meant that KXIP needed a six to tie the game and take it into the Super Over. The good part for them was that Mandeep had crossed over and Maxwell was on strike for the final ball. Narine went for a quicker delivery and the batsman, with all his might, tried to clear the short boundary at the extra cover region. To his sheer dismay, the ball hit the ropes on the half-volley.

Umpire Chris Gaffaney had eyes of a hawk and he signalled a four on an immediate basis. Replayed confirmed it as well. From being 115 for no loss in the 15th over, Punjab slumped in a horrendous manner and lost the game by two runs. Moreover, they kept tottering at the bottom of the table.

In the meantime, Maxwell was devastated after KXIP’s heart-breaking defeat. He took to Twitter and wrote, “Shattered… #gameofinches.” That Punjab and Maxwell shouldn’t have been in this position after KL Rahul and Mayank Agarwal’s stand for the opening wicket can’t be denied.

Here’s Maxwell’s tweet:

Shattered… 😞 #gameofinches

— Glenn Maxwell (@Gmaxi_32) October 10, 2020