RCB ‘s Roaring Comeback
The Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) came roaring back from losing to Punjab a couple of days ago on a rain-soaked night at Chinnaswamy, to hammer the Kings in Mullanpur yesterday evening. Virat Kohli batted brilliantly to make short work of a meagre target.
Punjab Make A Brisk Start…
Priyansh Arya, one of the finds of the IPL this year, along with Prabhsimran, started briskly for Punjab Kings, displaying an attractive array of stroke play. The risk notwithstanding, the fearless young brigade of batters just wish to entertain themselves and the crowd. The approach is beset with dangers, too, and once the experienced Krunal Pandya was introduced into the attack, the game changed for good.
… But Falter To Effective RCB Bowling
Priyansh, trying another lofted shot, perished, and so did Prabhsimran, who was looking good, but failed trying another hoic. Both openers had fallen to Krunal Pandya. Shreyas Iyer, who has been in sensational form, mistimed a straight loft off the bowling of Romario Shepherd to be gulped by Krunal.
Punjab Lose Their Way To Set Up A Meagre Target
Once Shreyas Iyer departed, Punjab virtually capitulated under some good bowling and timid batting. Josh Inglis threatened a bit, but departed for 29. Shashank Singh played an unusually slow knock of 31 runs of 33 balls, and had it not been for a couple of sixes from Marco Jansen, Punjab would have struggled to even touch 140. Eventually, Punjab’s laboured innings ended for a paltry 157.
RCB Cruise To Victory On Kohli’s Sublime Knock
Phil Salt was scalped early by Punjab, but Virat Kohli and Devdutt Padikkal stitched a tremendous 103-run partnership of 69 balls to make light work of a light target. Padikkal got to his 50 playing the more aggressive role ( hitting 5 fours and 4 sixes) and once he departed, Kohli finished the match with a well compiled 73 of 54 balls. It was a chase tailor-made for Kohli, and he did not disappoint.
RCB Move Up The Ladder
RCB moved to the 3rd position on the IPL leaderboard with 10 points from 8 games, while Punjab, with an identical set of stats but a lower NRR, moved to 4th position.
Kohli Gets POTM
Virat Kohli with his sublime batting and rock-solid temperament, guided RCB to yet another victory, thus winning the POTM award. Krunal Pandya and Suyash Sharma bowled extremely well for RCB and contributed immensely to their team’s win.
A Wake-Up Call For Punjab
Punjab batted poorly on a good pitch, and with hardly anything to defend, there was not much their bowlers could do. A wake up call for Ricky Ponting, as there seems to be a chink in the batting if Shreyas fails to score.
With halfway through, the IPL is entering an interesting phase. Have an eye on LSG, MI and KKR.
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