Punjab Kings tried to give their campaign a much-needed by changing the line-up. KL Rahul looked like he was well-prepared with a plan of action after winning the toss. He took no time in winning and putting Mumbai Indians into bat in the MA Chidambaram stadium.
Apart from Rohit Sharma and Suryakumar Yadav, MI looked weak. Mohammad Shami, Moises Henriques, and Ravi Bishnoi tightened the screws and never allowed MI to getaway. Hutman scored a well-deserved half-century which was played cautiously. He finally got out for 63 off a Shami delivery off 52 balls. His innings included 2 sixes and 5 fours.
The Pandya brothers woeful VIVO IPL 2021 continued with both the brothers getting out for 1 and 3 respectively. Punjab Kings bowling line-up, which had been under severe criticism from the last matches, turned up in the best possible fashion.
Shami let loose just 21 runs off his spell of 4 overs picking up 2 wickets. Ravi Bishnoi was great in his first match for PBKS. The spinner giving away just 21 runs off his quota of 4 overs and picking up 2 wickets. Deepak Hooda and Henriques were also very economical in their bowling spells.
MI just managing to score a below-average 131 runs off 20 overs, losing 6 wickets in the process. If PBKS were to get back to winning ways this was the match they had to do it in.
And that’s that from Chennai.
(60*) from @klrahul11 and 43* from Chris Gayle as #PBKS win by 9 wickets against #MI.
Scorecard – https://t.co/KCBEyHFVDN #VIVOIPL pic.twitter.com/oWfcCxhOmX
— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) April 23, 2021
KL Rahul and Mayank Agarwal started off the innings cautiously and rightly so. With just 132 to get, both the openers got their eye in and kept scoring at six runs an over. Chahar broke through the partnership picking up Agarwal for 25 runs when the batsmen just looked like cutting loose.
KL Rahul reached a much-deserved 50. He tried to play as safely as possible and wanted to get PBKS over the line. His 50 coming off 50 balls with 2 fours and 2 sixes. It was up to the Universe Boss Chris Gayle to get some fireworks going. Gayle didn’t disappoint and smashed 2 sixes and 5 fours.
KL Rahul got the winning runs for PBKS smashing a six and a four off Trent Boult and registering 9 wickets win over MI with 14 balls left. This was as convincing a victory as PBKS could have imagined. This is sure to get back some confidence in the team.
