Glenn Maxwell continued to assert his reputation as one of cricket's finest Twenty20 batsmen with another stunning innings to lead Kings XI Punjab to a convincing win over winless Sunrisers Hyderabad.

Four days after striking 95 to help Kings XI to victory over Chennai Super Kings, Australian Maxwell produced the exact same score to heap misery on Hyderabad in Sharjah. Those scores come either side of a marvellous 89 in the win against Rajasthan Royals. 

Kings XI are undoubtedly the form team of IPL 7 and Maxwell unquestionably the form batsman of the tournament so far. If both club and player continue in such fine fettle it would be difficult for any of their rivals to catch them.

Openers Cheteshwar Puajar (35) and Virender Sehwag (30) provided the foundations for Maxwell with a 51-run partnership before the Australian destroyed the Hyderabad bowlers with his explosive innings, which came off just 43 balls.

After Kings XI set the Sunrisers a target of 194 to win, Hyderabad struggled to produce the run-rate required to challenge the total, thanks in no small part to the brilliant bowling of Lakshmipathy Balaji.

The Indian medium-fast bowler took four wickets for the loss of just 13 runs from his allotted four overs to restrict the Sunrisers to 121.

The result means Kings XI retain their position at the top of the standings and extend their unbeaten start to the tournament. Meanwhile, the Sunrisers are rooted to the bottom of the table having failed to win either of their first two games.

More to follow…