Punjab Kings delivered a masterclass in disciplined bowling, which laid the foundation for their five-wicket triumph over Royal Challengers Bengaluru in a curtailed Indian Premier League encounter here on Friday.
The match, reduced to 14 overs a side following evening showers, began at 9:45 pm. RCB could muster only 95 for nine, with Tim David’s unbeaten 50 off 26 balls accounting for more than half of the team’s total.
Punjab Kings, despite a few early stumbles, chased down the target in 12.1 overs, finishing on 98 for five. The victory also prolonged RCB’s wait for a win at home this season.
Openers Priyansh Arya and Prabhsimran Singh, known for their aggressive strokeplay, found the going tough on a surface that assisted bounce. Arya, who prefers playing on the up, misjudged the bounce and mistimed a swipe off Josh Hazlewood (3/14) to David.
Prabhsimran fell to Bhuvneshwar Kumar, and the dismissal of skipper Shreyas Iyer soon after raised concerns. "Iyer tried to cut a delivery from Hazlewood but the ball was too close to his body and he could only edge it to stumper Jitesh Sharma," PTI reported.
Josh Inglis’s exit left Punjab at 53 for four and in a precarious position. However, Nehal Wadhera (33 not out off 19 balls) steadied the chase, striking a couple of towering sixes off leg-spinner Suyash Sharma.
Wadhera's measured approach ensured there were no further hiccups, and the Kings reached the target with ease, boosting their tally to 10 points and climbing to second place behind table-toppers Delhi Capitals.
Earlier, Punjab’s decision to bowl first paid rich dividends as their pacers made early inroads. Arshdeep Singh (2/23) struck in the opening over, removing Phil Salt, with Inglis taking a sharp catch.
Marco Jansen then pulled off a brilliant catch running back to dismiss Virat Kohli, again off Arshdeep, reducing RCB to 26 for three at the end of the powerplay. Liam Livingstone’s brief stay ended without impact.
Yuzvendra Chahal (2/11), returning to the M Chinnaswamy Stadium, his former home, made the most of the occasion, claiming the wicket of Jitesh Sharma.
Rajat Patidar offered some resistance with a fluent 23 off 18 balls, including a sweetly timed six over mid-wicket. However, his dismissal by Chahal proved costly, as RCB's innings unravelled further.
Jansen (2/10) added to the damage, removing Krunal Pandya and Impact Substitute Manoj Bhandage with short-pitched deliveries.
Player of the Match Tim David tried to lift RCB’s total with three sixes off Harpreet Brar, who still finished with two wickets. But the hosts’ score remained well below par for the conditions.
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