RCB vs PBKS: Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) edged past Punjab Kings (PBKS) by four wickets in a nail-biting encounter at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, securing their first win of the IPL 2024 season.
Virat Kohli Anchors Chase with Classy 77
Chasing a modest target of 177 runs, RCB relied heavily on a brilliant knock from veteran batsman Virat Kohli. The former skipper played a captain’s knock, scoring a 49-ball 77, peppering the boundaries with his trademark cover drives.
However, Kohli’s dismissal at a crucial juncture triggered a mini-collapse. With 47 runs still required in the final four overs, the pressure shifted to the RCB middle order.
RCB vs PBKS: Lomror and Karthik Deliver Under Pressure
Fortunately for RCB, young talent Mahipal Lomror (17* off 8 balls) and the experienced Dinesh Karthik (28* off 10 balls) rose to the occasion. Both batsmen played fearless cricket, taking on the likes of Harshal Patel, Sam Curran, and Arshdeep Singh, who struggled to contain them in the death overs. Karthik finished the match in style, smashing a six and a four off Arshdeep’s bowling with four balls remaining.
Disciplined RCB Bowling Restricts PBKS
Earlier, RCB bowlers displayed exceptional discipline to restrict PBKS to a manageable total of 176 runs. Young pacer Yash Dayal (1/23) impressed with his accuracy and swing, while Glenn Maxwell’s off-spin (1/29) proved effective in curbing the scoring rate.
RCB vs PBKS: Dhawan Leads Cautious Approach for PBKS
Put into bat, PBKS openers struggled to find momentum against the RCB attack. Skipper Shikhar Dhawan adopted a cautious approach, while Jonny Bairstow’s attempt to break the shackles resulted in his dismissal.
Curran, Shashank Singh Provide Late Flourish
Sam Curran (52) and Jitesh Sharma (27) provided a much-needed partnership for PBKS, but their dismissals left the team in a precarious position. A late cameo by Shashank Singh (21* off 8 balls) helped PBKS post a fighting total, but it wasn’t enough to overpower a determined RCB batting line-up.
[…] Kohli, the former Indian captain, marked his much-awaited return to the IPL with a stellar 77-run knock against Punjab Kings. This knock propelled Royal Challengers Bangalore to a crucial 4-wicket […]