After the pandemic ravaged the world, the Indian Premier League has returned for its fifteenth season and promises its fans some fireworks. In an exciting, high-scoring match, the Punjab Kings registered their first victory against the mighty Royal Challengers Bangalore at the D Y Patil Stadium.The Royal Challengers Bangalore, with a score of 205/2, were beat by the Punjab Kings with a score of 208/5 with an over to spare.
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Slow Start
RCB’s slow start, accompanied with the Punjab Kings’ explosive batting seem to have led to the Kings clinching a stupendous 5-wicket victory with an over t spare. Though Faf du Plessis scored a captain’s knock, the Kings managed to power through the innings to chase a mighty 205 runs.
The Royal Challengers started by scoring 57 at the loss of one wicket in the first nine overs, a score that included 16 extras. The eighth and ninth overs gave the Challengers a mere seven runs, with no boundaries.
A change in tide
Faf du Plessis managed to make a difference with a score of 17 off his first 30 balls. He was supported by Virat Kohli with a 41 off 29 and Dinesh Kartik with a 32 off 14. The tenth over saw a welcome change in resolve in the RCB on both ends of the pitch. While Kohli started off, hitting spinner Harpreet Brar over long-on, du Plessis too retorted with well-timed aggression. The two giants had a significant partnership of 118 runs off 61 balls.
With the T20 world cup round the corner, the IPL can work as a test for aspirants and Chahar seems to have made his mark. He ended up with 1 wicket for 22 runs in 4 overs. Arsh deep Singh bowled a crucial 18th over conceding just 3 runs and took the wicket of du Plessis for 88 runs off 57 balls. Kartik’s knock in the last overs ensured that RCB cross a total of 200.
A perfect start for PBKS
Shikhar Dhawan and Mayank Agarwal started off the innings with a bang. The players put up a mighty 28 runs in the first three overs, followed by another 29 runs in the fourth and fifth overs. With 57 for no loss, the sixth over conceded just six runs. Wanindu Hasaranga, the right-arm spinner, then managed to get skipper Mayank Agarwal on the first ball of his over, bowling a short ball on the pads.
Next in was Rajapaksa, who hit Hasaranga for a mighty four. The Punjab Kings reached 100 in the 11th over. Though the Kings kept losing wickets, they did not slow down. Dhawan lost his wicket at 43 in 29 balls, but was followed by Liam Livingstone, who hit a massive six and kept going even after Rajapaksa and Bawa lost their wickets to Mohammed Siraj in successive deliveries. After Lliving stone got out at 19 in 10 balls, it seemed like RCB had found a way back in. the Kings scored just 14 runs in the 16th and 17th overs.
Wrapped up in style
Odean Smith, after being dropped in the 17th over, scored 25 runs in the 18th over, displaying his prowess with three sixes and a four. The Kings finished off in style after Shahrukh Khan imparted the final touch in the 19th over.
