KINGS TAKE WINGS
Harpreet and Rahul shine as Punjab defeats Bangalore
Punjab Kings turned on the style romping to a 34-run win over Royal Challengers Bangalore in the IPL in Ahmedabad on Friday.
The result was never in doubt after Bangalore lost a clutch of wickets upfront while chasing a challenging total of 180.
Punjab found an unlikely hero in the unheralded Harpreet Brar, a left-arm spinner, who accounted for the big three of Virat Kohli, Glenn Maxwell and AB de Villiers. Bangalore could manage only 145 for eight. Punjab captain KL Rahul will have been mighty pleased with his team’s collective effort after an up-and-down season so far. Punjab has notched up its third win in seven matches to move up to fifth on the table, while Bangalore lost its second in seven games.
Things went awry for the Bangalore team right from the time its chase began with the highly-rated Devdutt Padikkal falling cheaply for seven with Riley Meredith uprooting his stump. Skipper Kohli found the going tough in the face of disciplined bowling from Mohammed Shami and Meredith. Rajat Patidar, batting at number three, showed no intent whatsoever in a dreary knock of 31 (30b, 2x4, 1x6) and the pressure finally told when Kohli was castled by Brar for 35 (34b, 3x4, 1x6) in the 11th over.
Off the next ball, Brar was at it again, getting rid of Maxwell to spread panic among the Bangalore dug-out. That was a memorable double-wicket maiden over from the turban-clad 25-year-old. He didn’t stop there as in his next over he secured the key wicket of de Villiers, caught at extra cover by Rahul for three.
Brar finished with impressive figures of 4-1-19-3. At 69 for four in the 13th over, the game was virtually over and it was followed by more misery for Bangalore when leg-spinner Ravi Bishnoi removed Shahbaz Ahmed and Daniel Sams off successive deliveries in the 16th over. Although Harshal Patel biffed a few lusty blows in the end, they weren’t enough to threaten Kings.
Earlier, skipper Rahul scored a combative unbeaten 91 to lead Punjab to a competitive 179 for five.
Rahul and Chris Gayle (46 off 24) shared 80 runs but Punjab’s middle order collapsed as Brar, batting at number seven, was the only other batsman to manage a double-digit score.
Rahul and Brar added 61 runs for the unbeaten sixth wicket to rescue the side after the RCB bowlers seized the initiative once Gayle was sent back in the 11th over.
Brief scores: Punjab Kings 179/5 in 20 overs (KL Rahul 91*, C Gayle 46) bt Royal Challengers Bangalore 145/8 in 20 overs (H Brar 3/19)