An incredible innings by Virat Kohli, followed up with collective effort by bowlers helped Royal Challengers Bengaluru stay in the race for the playoffs with a 60-run win over Punjab Kings in Dharamsala on Thursday, May 9.
After posting a total of 241/7 in 20 overs on the board, RCB bundled out PBKS for 181 in 17 overs. Mohammed (3/43) led the visitors' bowling attack as he picked three wickets while Swapnil Singh (2/28), Lockie Ferguson (2/29) and Karn Sharma (2/36) took two scalps each.
For Punjab Kings, Rilee Rossouw put on a good show with the bat as he played an innings 61 off 27 balls at a strike rate of 225.92. However, his effort in vain. Shashank Singh and Jonny Bairstow scored 37 and 27 balls, respectively.
With a defeat against Royal Challengers Bengaluru, Punjab Kings have been officially knocked out of the playoffs race.
Mid-innings update:
Virat Kohli, Rajat Patidar and Cameron Green's brutal batting helped Royal Challengers Bengaluru post a solid total of 241/7 in 20 overs in the first innings of the IPL 2024 clash against Punjab Kings.
RCB resumed their innings at 119/3 after the stoppage of play due to hailstorm in Dharamsala. Virat Kohli and Cameron Green took PBKS bowlers to the cleaners as the pair formed a 92-run partnership to take the visitors past a 200-run mark.
Kohli played an incredible knock of 92 off 47 balls at a strike rate of 195.78 until he was dismissed by Arshdeep Singh at 211/4. Then, Green was joined by Dinesh Karthik at the crease.
Karthik smashed couple of sixes and a four before he was dismissed by Harshal Patel for 18 on the first ball of the final over. Then, Patel got better of Mahipal Lamror for a duck before dismissing Cameron Green for 45.
For Punjab Kings, Harshal Patel (3/38) picked three wickets while debutant Vidhwath Kaverappa (2/36) took two scalps.
Rain Stoppage:
The weather gods have interrupted Match 58 between Punjab Kings and Royal Challengers Bengaluru in Dharamsala.
RCB had reached 119 for 3 in 10 overs when rain stopped play. The showers came right after the wicket of half-centurion Rajat Patidar (55), who forged a 76-run partnership with Virat Kohli (42*).
Toss Update:
Sam Curran's Punjab Kingswon the toss and opted to bowl first against Faf du Plessis-led Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the 58th match of the IPL 2024 at the HPCA Stadium in Dharamsala on Thursday.
It is a do-or-die game for both sides as they have to win in order to be in contention for playoffs. PBKS and RCB have made a change each to their playing XI in their crucial. Punjab Kings brought in Liam Livingstone by replacing Kagiso Rabada, while Royal Challengers Bengaluru dropped out-of-form Glenn Maxwell to bring in Lockie Ferguson.
Meanwhile, Shikhar Dhawan continues to remain on the sidelines due to shoulder injury. The skipper played only five matches and scored 152 runs in the ongoing IPL season.
Playing XI
PBKS: Jonny Bairstow(WK), Prabhsimran Singh, Rilee Rossouw, Shashank Singh, Sam Curran(C), Liam Livingstone, Ashutosh Sharma, Harshal Patel, Rahul Chahar, Arshdeep Singh, Vidhwath Kaverappa
RCB: Virat Kohli, Faf du Plessis(C), Will Jacks, Rajat Patidar, Mahipal Lomror, Cameron Green, Dinesh Karthik(WK), Swapnil Singh, Karn Sharma, Mohammed Siraj, Lockie Ferguson
Match Preview:
Punjab Kings and Royal Challengers Bengaluru are facing against each other for round two of their clash in IPL 2024. In their last encounter, RCB registered their first victory of the season with a 4-wicket win over PBKS. Virat Kohli was the star performer as he played a splendid match-winning knock of 77 off 49 balls in a 177-run chase.
Punjab Kings are having a mediocre outing in the ongoing IPL 2024 season. Their last match defeat against Chennai Super Kings saw them slipping to the eighth spot with four wins and seven losses. Though, PBKS are still in the race for the playoffs but looks difficult from here even if they win the next games as their knockout qualification will be based on their net run rate (NRR).
Royal Challengers Bengaluru, on the other hand, bounced back from a six-match losing streak to a three-match winning streak to stay in contention for the playoffs. Faf du Plessis-side is currently at the seventh spot with four wins in 11 outings and accumulated 8 points. Like PBKS, RCB’s playoff qualification will be based on their NRR.
