IPL 2021: PBKS Live To Fight Another Day, Defeat KKR By 5 Wickets
In another last-over thriller by Punjab Kings, PBKS defeated Kolkata Knight Riders by 5 wickets. For PBKS, the top performer was KL Rahul who scored 67 from 55 balls, smashing 4 fours & 2 sixes. Mayank Agarwal also scored 40 off 27 balls with 3 fours & 3 sixes. They provided a good opening partnership of 70 runs in 8.5 overs.
After that, PBKS batting declined but the skipper held one end and at last came Shahrukh Khan, who scored 22* off 9 balls and finished the match with a six.
For KKR, Varun Chakravarthy picked up important wickets of Mayank Agarwal and Nicholas Pooran. Knight Riders seemed very sloppy on the field, as they dropped KL Rahul at 1, Mayank Agarwal at 0 who went on to score 40 runs. In the end also, KKR fielder Rahul Tripathi missed a catch and it went over the boundary for six.
In the first innings, with the help of useful contributions by Venkatesh Iyer (67), Rahul Tripathi (34), and Nitish Rana (31) were able to post 165/7 against Punjab Kings. For KKR, Iyer scored 67 off 49 balls with 9 fours and 1 six played according to the good form he has shown in the second leg.
However, KKR were looking at 180 but PBKS bowlers - Shami & Arshdeep held the flow of runs in the last two overs and gave away just 14 runs. For PBKS, Arshdeep picked up 3 wickets while Ravi Bishnoi picked up 2.
Earlier, PBKS Captain KL Rahul won the toss and elected field first against KKR in the 45th Match of the IPL 2021. The match is being played at Sheikh Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Dubai.
Brief Score:
Kolkata Knight Riders - 165/7 in 20 overs. (Iyer - 67(49), Arshdeep - 3/32)
Punjab Kings - 168/5 in 19.3 overs. (Rahul - 67(55), Mayank - 40(27), Varun - 2/24)
Also Read: T20 World Cup 2021