The Free Press Journal

Bairstow, Livingston­e propel PBKS to huge 54-run win over RCB

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Punjab Kings buried Royal Challenger­s Bangalore under a deluge of runs as they kept their play-off hopes alive with a 54-run victory, riding on superb half-centuries from Jonny Bairstow and Liam Livingston­e in an IPL match here on Friday.

Bairstow (66 off 29 balls) and Livingston­e (70 off 42 balls) propelled Punjab Kings to 209 for 9 in a mustwin game and the scoreboard was always going to be telling as RCB were restricted to 155 for 9.

While Punjab remain in the mix with 12 points from as many games, the margin of victory considerab­ly improved their net run-rate to +0.210 and RCB despite having 14 points from 13 games are at a -0.323.

RCB will have to win their final game and move to 16 points but also now need to have some rub of the green with a few favourable results going their way.

It was another day and another failure for Virat Kohli (20), who got a faint under-edge tickle on his gloves before it hit his thigh pad and bobbed up to short fine leg off a Kagiso Rabada (4-0-21-3) delivery. Rabada was literally unplayable on the day as he worked good pace and hit the ideal fuller length for better part of his spell.

Rishi Dhawan (4-0-36-2), perhaps the weakest link in Punjab attack, then made up for his lack of pace by hitting immaculate length as Faf du Plessis edged one to Jitesh Sharma behind stumps and Mahipal Lomror's rasping pull shot was taken by Shikhar Dhawan.

BRIEF SCORES: PBKS 209 for 9 in 20 overs (Liam Livingston­e 70, Jonny Bairstow 66; Harshal Patel 4-34 ,Wanindu Hasaranga 2-15) beat RCB 155 for 9 in 20 overs (Glenn Maxwell 35, Rajat Pitidar 26; Kagiso Rabada 3-21) by 54 runs.

 ?? PIC: IPL, BCCI ?? Liam Livingston­e stroked his way to a 42-ball 70 against Royal Challenger­s Bangalore on Friday.
PIC: IPL, BCCI Liam Livingston­e stroked his way to a 42-ball 70 against Royal Challenger­s Bangalore on Friday.

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