Picture : IPL / X
Royal Challengers Bangalore got their Tata IPL 2024 back on track as they clinched a thrilling 4 wicket win over the Punjab Kings at their home ground in Bengaluru.
Put into bat by RCB Skipper Faf du Plessis after he had won the toss , Punjab Kings began on rather shaky note . It lost Jonny Bairstow early for 8 . Prabhsimran Singh chipped in with 25 . Skipper Shikhar Dhawan struggled to get moving and scored 45 ( 37 balls, 5 fours, 1 six) . Big- hitter Liam Livingstone fell for 17 . Sam Curran scored 23 . Handy cameos from Jitesh Sharma ( 27 , Shashank Singh 21 ( 8 balls , 1 four, 2 sixes ). Punjab Kings finishing at 176/ 6 in their 20 overs.
For RCB the bowling figures read : Mohammed Siraj 2/ 26 ( 4 overs), Yash Dayal 1/ 23 ( 4 overs), Alzarri Joseph1/ 43 ( 4 overs), Cameron Green 0/ 19 ( 2 overs), Mayank Dagar 0/ 34 ( 3 overs), Glenn Maxwell 2/ 29 ( 3 overs)
RCB in the chase were nervy and lost wickets regularly . Dropped on 0 by Jonny Bairstow off Sam Curran , Virat Kohli made the Kings pay heavily with a masterly innings . King Kohli was at his best with shots all- round the wicket for his 77 ( 49 balls, 11 fours 2 sixes) . Virat was the only one who stood tall as their top order flopped – Skipper Faf du Plessis ( 3), Cameron Green ( 3) , Rajat Padidar ( 18 ) , Glenn Maxwell ( 3).
But luckily for RCB Dinesh Karthik came up with an unbeaten superb cameo 28 ( 10 balls 3 fours 2 sixes) and supported well by Mahipal Lomror 17 ( 8) saw saw RCB romp home by 4 wickets . RCB reaching 178/ 6 in 19. 2 overs.
For the Kings , Sam Curran 1/ 30 ( 3 overs), Arshdeep Singh 0/ 40 ( 3.2 overs) , Kagiso Rabada 2/ 23 ( 4 overs), Harpreet Brar 2/ 13 ( 4 overs) was brilliant. Harshal Patel 1/ 45 ( 4 overs), Rahul Chahar 0/ 16 ( 1 over)
Match: IPL 2024, 6th Match
Venue: Bengaluru | Date: March 25, 2024
