Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s massive 60-run victory over Punjab Kings ended the latter’s playoff aspirations, marking their fourth consecutive loss.
In Dharamsala, Punjab Kings chose to bowl first against Royal Challengers Bengaluru, facing a strong batting lineup. Virat Kohli’s commanding 92 off 47 balls spearheaded RCB’s innings, stopping just short of his 100th century across formats. Rajat Patidar’s explosive 55 off 23 balls, along with a rapid 76-run partnership with Kohli, took RCB to a challenging total of 241/7 in 20 overs. Despite a brief rain delay, Kohli and Cameron Green added another 92 runs off 46 balls.
Punjab’s bowlers struggled, with only debutant Vidhwath Kaverappa impressing with 2 wickets in the powerplay. Harshal Patel shined in the final over, conceding just three runs and claiming 3 wickets. Despite Bengaluru’s strong start, they fell short of the 250-run mark due to Patel’s exceptional performance in the closing stages.
Punjab Kings’ hopes for a quick start were dashed early as Prabhsimran Singh fell in the first over after a brief flurry of boundaries. However, Jonny Bairstow and Rilee Rossouw kept the momentum going, scoring 75 runs in the Powerplay, albeit losing Bairstow along the way. Rossouw continued aggressively, reaching a well-deserved fifty, but his innings were cut short after a blow to the throat.
Following Russouw’s dismissal, Punjab’s middle order faltered, with only Shashank Singh (37) providing a brief cameo, while skipper Sam Curran (22) contributed some runs. However, their efforts fell short as they succumbed to a massive 60-run defeat, unable to counter Bengaluru’s dominance.
Last Updated on May 9, 2024
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