Punjab Kings beat Royal Challengers Bangalore by five wickets in their Indian Premier League match on Sunday. The Punjab side chased down a huge target of 206 with six balls to spare in a thrilling high-scoring match. Shikhar Dhawan and Bhanuka Rajapaksa scored 43 each up the order, while M Shahrukh Khan and Odean Smith remained not out on 24 and 25 respectively as Punjab reached 208 for 5 in 19 overs. For RCB, Mohammed Siraj was the most successful bowler with figures of 2/59.
Chasing 206, booted off on a promising note with Mayank Agarwal and Shikhar Dhawan adding 71 runs in just 7.1 overs. Wanindu Hasaranga then broke the stand, dismissing Mayank on 32(24) balls in his first ball of the season. Dhawan and Bhanuka Rajapaksa continued Punjab’s fight and added 47 runs for the second wicket before Harshal Patel provided RCB with their second breakthrough, removing the Indian on 43(29).
Rajapaksa also scored the same number of runs in 22 balls before getting out to Mohammed Siraj, who then went to dismiss India’s U-19 star Raj Angad Bawa in the following delivery. Liam Livingstone was the final batter to depart as a late cameo by Odean Smith helped PBKS close the match with an over to spare. Earlier in the evening, Faf du Plessis scored 88 off 57 as Royal Challengers finish on 205/2 after being invited to bat first.
The RCB skipper found great support from Virat Kohli as the pair added 118 runs for the second wicket. Kohli returned unbeaten on 41 off 29 balls. a year. Shahrukh Khan whacks an overpitched delivery by Harshal Patel just wide off the bowler for a bowler and it’s game over as Punjab Kings chase down the 206-run target with an over to spare. Odean Smith returns unbeaten on 25 (8), while Shahrukh hits 24 (20).
