KL Rahul singlehandedly won it for Punjab Kings after scoring a match-winning 91 runs off just 57 balls. The PBKS captain stroked 5 big sixes and 7 fours to make PBKS reach 179 for 5 of the full quota of 20 overs. RCB never looked like they are in the game at any stage of the match. They lost wickets at regular intervals and the PBKS bowlers were always able to maintain a tight grip on the match.
KL Rahul And Chris Gayle’s Onslaught Put PBKS Into The Driver’s Seat
Virat Kohli won the toss and put PBKS into bat. What he did not expect was the KL Rahul onslaught that would unleash PBKS in the first Power Play of the match. Prabhsimran Singh has promoted up the order in place of Mayank Agarwal but did not get going. He got out after scoring just 7 runs off 7 balls.
Chris Gayle walked in and started doing what he does best. He smashed the RCB bowlers to all corners of the park. The Universe Boss scored a quickfire 46 off just 24 balls with 6 fours and 2 sixes. If the PBKS lower order would have contributed, the team would have easily crossed the 200 marks.
RCB felt that they were able to get back into the game after removing Rahul and Gayle. The rest of the batting line-up including, Deepak Hooda, Shahrukh Khan, and Nicholas Pooran could only manage 5 runs between them. Khan and Pooran getting out for ducks!
At the fag end of the innings Harpreet Brar was able to score 2 sixes and 1 four in his unbeaten innings of 25 that made PBKS reach a respectable total of 179 runs. Harshal Patel faced a lot of sticks in the RCB bowling line-up. His four overs leaking 53 runs!
RCB Faltered In Their Chase Early On In The Match. Never Really Looked Like Getting The Runs
If RCB were to chase down the target, their batting line-up had to shine. The batting did not start particularly great for RCB. Padikkal, their hero, getting out in the second over of the innings. Padkilla getting clean bowled by Meredith for just 7 runs.
Rajat Patidar has been dependable at the first-down position. He along with Kohli tried to lend some stability to the RCB chase. While both of them solidified and prevented wickets from falling, they started consuming too many runs. While Patidar scored a 31 off 30 balls, Kohli scored a slow 35 off 34 balls.
They ate so many balls and got out that the rest of the RCB batting line-up came under severe stress. Maxwell, de Villiers, Shahbaz Ahmed, and Daniel Sams all gout out for single-digit scores. Maxwell scored a golden duck, while the others scored 3, 8, and 3 respectively.
Challenge accomplished! ✅😎#SaddaPunjab #PunjabKings #IPL2021 #PBKSvRCB pic.twitter.com/JMyKacjw0l
— Punjab Kings (@PunjabKingsIPL) April 30, 2021
The real fireworks of the RCB innings came from two very unlikely sources- Harshal Patel and Kylie Jamieson. Patel looked like he had to avenge the 53 runs he had conceded in his bowling spell in the first innings. Together with Jamieson, he put on a fine show, smashing 2 sixes and 3 fours in quick succession. Jamieson for his part also scored a mammoth six and a four.
At one point, RCB did not look like they would reach the 120 marks. However, Patel and Jamieson ensured that RCB made up on the Run Rate factor. Patel falling to a brilliant Bishnoi catch at Long Off. Shami taking his first wicket off the match. Patel getting out for 31.
PBKS winning the match by 34 runs. Brar sucked the life out of RCB’s middle order taking 3 wickets in his four-over spell after only conceding 19 runs.
