IPL 2022: Powerful Punjab Defeat Bangalore By Five Wickets

Some sensational power hitting from Odean Smith and Shah Rukh Khan helped Punjab Kings(PBKS) beat Royal Challengers Bangalore(RCB) by five wickets to open the account in IPL 2022 at DY Patil Stadium. 

Chasing a tricky total of 206, PBKS got off to a terrific start provided by openers Mayank Agarwal and Shikhar Dhawan. The duo smacked 63 runs inside the powerplay without losing any wicket. 

Wanindu Hasaranga provided RCB the first breakthrough in the form of Mayank, who scored 32 off 24 with the help of two fours and as many sixes. Dhawan continued to score freely and was joined by Bhanuka Rajapaksa at the crease. 

Dhawan scored 43 in 29 balls including five fours and a six before Harshal Patel got him out. Rajapaksa, at the end, was doing a splendid job smacking 43 off 22 balls with the help of four sixes and two fours. 

The 14th over saw Mohammad Siraj removing both Rajapaksa and Raj Bawa on consecutive deliveries to bring RCB back in the game. In the next over, Liam Livingstone also got out after scoring 19 in 10 balls. 

PBKS still needed 50 in the last five overs. Odean Smith and Shah Rukh Khan joined hands to smack the RCB bowlers one at a time. Siraj, in particular, was hit for 25 runs in one over to push RCB out of the game. 

Smith smacked 25 in eight balls with the help of three sixes and a four while Shah Rukh scored 24 in 20 balls including two sixes and a boundary to help PBKS chase down 206 with an over to spare. 

Earlier, after being put in to bat first, RCB began cautiously and only scored 41 in the powerplay. Anuj Rawat scored 21 in 20 balls and got out in the seventh over that brought Virat Kohli to the crease. 

Faf du Plessis was struggling to rotate strike at the other end and Kohli took charge to run some quick runs and in between smacked two sixes vs spin - a sight rarely seen nowadays. 

Du Plessis got into his groove late and made up for it real quick as he smacked seven sixes and three fours during his 88-run knock in 57 balls. Kohli and Du Plessis added 118 runs for the second wicket in 61 balls. 

Dinesh Karthik was sent in to finish the innings and he did his job splendidly, hitting 32 off 14 balls including three sixes and as many fours. Kohli remained not out on 41 in 29 balls as RCB finished at 205/2. 

Brief Scorecard: 

Also Read: IPL 2022 - Scorecard

Royal Challengers Bangalore - 205/2 
Punjab Kings - 208/5 in 19 overs