Punjab Kings beat RCB by 5 wickets
In a game reduced to 14 overs due to rain, RCB set a target of 96 runs.
KATHMANDU: Punjab Kings continued their fine form in the Indian Premier League (IPL), defeating Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) by 5 wickets in a rain-curtailed match.
In a game reduced to 14 overs due to rain, RCB set a target of 96 runs.
Punjab comfortably chased it down with 11 balls to spare, losing five wickets in the process.
Young batter Nehal Wadhera played a crucial unbeaten knock of 33 runs off just 19 balls, smashing three fours and three sixes.
Marcus Stoinis sealed the victory in style, hitting a six off the second ball he faced to finish with 7* from two deliveries.
For RCB, Josh Hazlewood impressed with the ball, taking three key wickets while conceding only 14 runs in his 3 overs. However, RCB’s modest total proved insufficient.
Earlier, after losing the toss, RCB managed just 95 runs for 9 wickets.
Tim David top-scored with a fighting unbeaten 50 off 26 balls, including five boundaries and three sixes.
Skipper Rajat Patidar contributed 23 runs from 18 deliveries, but the rest of the batting lineup failed to reach double figures.
Punjab’s bowling attack was clinical. Marco Jansen claimed 2 wickets for just 10 runs in 3 overs, Yuzvendra Chahal took 2 for 11 in 2 overs, and Arshdeep Singh bagged 2 wickets conceding 23 runs in his spell. Only Harpreet Singh proved expensive.
Despite RCB’s loss, Tim David was named Player of the Match for his valiant half-century.
With this win, Punjab Kings climbed to second place on the points table with 10 points.
They are level with Delhi Capitals but trail on net run rate, keeping Delhi at the top.
