Royal Challengers Bangalore suffered a setback on the IPL’s birthday, losing to Punjab Kings in a rain-shortened 14-over match. Punjab Kings chased down the 96-run target in 12.1 overs, winning by five wickets.
Punjab Kings’ Resilient Chase
Punjab Kings got off to a shaky start, losing their first wicket at 22 runs. Prabhsimran Singh was out for 13 runs, followed by Prithvi Shaw, who scored 16. Captain Shreyas Iyer contributed seven runs before being dismissed. Josh Inglis added 14 runs but couldn’t last long. At 53/4 in the eighth over, it seemed like RCB was making a comeback. However, Nehal Wadhera counter-attacked, scoring an unbeaten 33 off 19 balls, including three fours and three sixes, to turn the game around.
RCB’s Struggles Continue
RCB batted first and managed just 95 runs. Phil Salt was dismissed for four runs by Arshdeep Singh in the first over. Faf du Plessis added just one run before being caught out. RCB’s top order failed to capitalize, with Liam Livingstone scoring 23 and Jitesh Sharma managing two. Rajat Patidar showed some promise, hitting a four and a six, but was eventually dismissed for 23 off 18 balls. Manoj Bhandage, who came in as an impact player, was out for one run. Tim David was the lone bright spot, scoring a half-century, including five fours and three sixes, to finish on 50 not out off 26 balls.
Key Performances
Arshdeep Singh, Harpreet Brar, Yuzvendra Chahal, and Marco Jansen each claimed two wickets for Punjab Kings, restricting RCB’s score. Nehal Wadhera’s crucial knock helped Punjab Kings secure a comfortable win, propelling them to second place in the points table.