Amla is confident about Kings XI’s playoff chances

Kings XI Punjab started their IPL campaign with two consecutive victories against RPS and RCB but after that, they have suffered four losses in a row. In the last match against Mumbai Indians they played really well and scored 199 runs with the help of Hashim Amla’s brilliant century but this wasn’t enough to stop the likes of Butler and Rana who both scored half-centuries to help their side win the game. This loss certainly shook their morale.
To qualify for the playoffs, they need to win six more games. After this loss, they are at the 5th position with four points. Despite the losing streak, Amla is pretty confident that their side will qualify for the playoffs. After the match he said, “Of course there is a chance. Every team has a chance to get into the playoffs, we are only halfway through the competition, so everybody is in with a chance, if we get on a good roll, (with) consecutive victories, then with momentum you never know what can happen.”
He added,

“Seven matches we have to win, basically every one of them or at least five I think. I’m not sure what the equation is, but nevertheless, we have to play as attacking as we can and hopefully get some victories under our belt before we fall too far behind.”

Normally known for his defensive batting, Amla played an attacking role against Mumbai Indians. He scored 104 runs hitting eight boundaries and six 6s. Mumbai’s bowlers couldn’t stop him as he remained unbeaten on 104 off just 60 balls. Hashim Amla smashed Lasith Malinga for 51 runs hitting five 6s and four boundaries.
When asked about Malinga, he said,

“Lasith’s an excellent bowler, some day you just manage to get some boundaries off him but he is a world class bowler. I’m really glad to get some runs, there’s no doubt about it. It’s a good wicket to bat on as we saw, it’s a smallish field, I’m really glad to get some runs on the board, it’s never nice to lose consecutive matches like we have, so hopefully, we go into the next venue and manage to get a victory.”

He also praised Mumbai’s batsman as they smashed 82 runs in the powerplay. Mumbai’s openers Parthiv Patel and Jos Butler added 81 runs in the powerplay. He said,

“I think Mumbai played exceptionally well. The way they batted, they came out all guns blazing and managed to score a lot of runs in the powerplay. That was a crucial factor in them getting through comfortably as they did.””I think Mumbai played exceptionally well. The way they batted, they came out all guns blazing and managed to score a lot of runs in the powerplay. That was a crucial factor in them getting through comfortably as they did.”

He further added,

“Sometimes, certain shots that get played and as a bowling unit you got to say well played, I mean nothing much you can do at certain times. Mumbai played exceptionally well. We have to reassess, as a batting unit and bowling unit, we have to see where we can get better.”