Aggressive Start by Punjab Openers
Royal Challengers Bengaluru chose to bowl after winning the toss. Punjab Kings opened with Priyansh Arya and Prabhsimran Singh. Bhuvneshwar Kumar bowled a tight first over, giving away just two runs. In the second over, Yash Dayal faced heavy hitting. Prabhsimran smashed a four, followed by a six and four from Arya. Punjab scored 17 runs in the over.
Prabhsimran continued the attack in the third over with three boundaries. Punjab raced to 31/0 after three overs. Arya added two more boundaries in the fourth over off Hazlewood. However, Krunal Pandya struck in the fifth over, removing Arya for 22 off 15. Shreyas Iyer joined Prabhsimran, who added another boundary. Punjab stood at 49/1 after five overs.
Prabhsimran’s Solid Knock Ends
Hazlewood started the sixth over with a double. Prabhsimran smashed a six, and Iyer added a four. Punjab reached 62/1 after six overs. Prabhsimran had scored 33 off 16 balls. In the very next over, Krunal dismissed Prabhsimran on the first ball. Josh Inglis came in next. Krunal gave away only three runs and picked a wicket. Punjab were 65/2.
Middle-Order Collapse Begins
Romario Shepherd bowled the eighth over and removed Shreyas Iyer for 6. Nehal Wadhera came to bat. After eight overs, PBKS stood at 70/3. Suyash Sharma bowled the ninth over. He gave only six runs and ran out Nehal on the last ball. PBKS were 76/4 at the halfway mark.
In the 11th over, Shashank Singh hit a boundary. Inglis then took charge with two boundaries in the 12th over and a six in the 13th. Punjab crossed 100 and stood at 111/4 after 13 overs.
Suyash Sharma’s Double Blow
Suyash Sharma turned the game in the 14th over. He dismissed Inglis for 29 and Stoinis for a duck. PBKS slipped to 114/6. Jansen came in to bat. Punjab managed only five runs in the 15th over. In the next, Jansen hit a six but RCB restricted scoring with tight bowling.
Punjab Finish with 157/6
Bhuvneshwar and Hazlewood bowled two economical overs. Punjab reached 140/6 after 18 overs. They added only 17 runs in the last two overs. Jansen hit a six on the last ball, and Punjab ended with 157/6 in 20 overs.
Early Blow, but Kohli Anchors
Chasing 158, Phil Salt and Virat Kohli opened for RCB. Arshdeep bowled the first over and dismissed Salt on the last ball. RCB were 6/1. Padikkal came in next. He and Kohli added boundaries to keep the scoreboard moving.
Padikkal hit two boundaries in the third over and a six in the fourth. RCB were at 31/1. Kohli and Padikkal found the gaps well. After six overs, RCB were 54/1 with Kohli on 31 and Padikkal on 22.
Partnership Builds Pressure on PBKS
Padikkal smashed a six off Chahal and brought up a 50-run partnership with Kohli. RCB reached 65/1 in seven overs. Though Jansen and Brar slowed things a bit, Padikkal hit big in the 10th over. After 10 overs, RCB were 88/1.
Padikkal completed his half-century in 30 balls. In the 12th over, he hit a six bringing up RCB’s 100 and then hit a four, that brings up the 100-run partnership between Padikkal and Kohli. RCB stood at 108/1 after 12 overs.
Padikkal Falls, Kohli Completes Fifty
Harpreet Brar dismissed Padikkal in the 13th over for 61. Patidar came in but struggled to score. Kohli reached his fifty in the 15th over with a single. RCB were at 122/2.
Kohli Goes Big, Finishes Strong
In the 17th over, Kohli hit a six and a four off Chahal. Patidar fell during the same over for 12. Jitesh Sharma joined Kohli. Brar bowled a tight 18th over, but RCB crossed 150. Nehal Wadhera bowled the 19th. Jitesh Sharma finished the chase with a six. RCB chased the target in 19 overs. Kohli remained unbeaten on 73 off 54 balls. Jitesh supported with 11 off 8. RCB maintained their unbeaten record away from home.
