Challenge is how bowlers can even the game: Fleming

PUNJAB KINGS Atharva Taide c Sen b Avesh 15

Jonny Bairstow c Hetmyer b Maharaj 15 (19b, 1x4), Prabhsimran Singh c Jurel b Chahal 10 (14b, 1x4), Sam Curran c Jurel b Maharaj 6 (10b), Jitesh Sharma c Parag b Avesh 29 (24b, 1x4, 2x6), Shashank Singh c Jurel b Sen 9 (9b, 1x4), Liam Livingstone run out 21 (14b, 2x4, 1x6), Ashutosh Sharma

Player in place of Prabhsimran) (31b, 3x4), Sanju Samson lbw b Rabada 18 (14b, 1x4, 1x6), Riyan Parag c Rabada b Arshdeep 23 (18b, 1x4, 1x6), Dhruv Jurel c Shashank b Harshal 6 (11b), Shimron Hetmyer (not out) 27 (10b, 1x4, 3x6), Rovman Powell c Jitesh b Curran 11 (5b, 2x4), Keshav Maharaj c Livingstone b Curran 1 (2b), Trent Boult (not out) 0 (0b); Extras (w3): 3; Total (for 7 wkts. in 19.5 overs): 152.

FALL OF WICKETS

156 (Kotian, 8.2), 282 (Jaiswal, 11.4), 389 (Samson, 13.2), 4113 (Parag, 16.4), 5115 (Jurel, 17.2), 6136 (Powell, 18.3), 7138 (Maharaj, 18.6).

PUNJAB KINGS BOWLING Arshdeep 3.50451, Rabada 40182, Curran 40252, Livingstone 30211, Harshal 20211, Harpreet Brar 30220. Toss: Royals. PoM: Hetmyer. RR won by three wickets with one ball to spare.

Chennai Super Kings head coach Stephen Fleming hopes the bowlers are given more leeway in the IPL to ensure balance is maintained and the league continues its reputation.

“Batting, in particular, has evolved at a huge rate of knots over the last five years. The challenge of the IPL, from a skill point of view, is how the bowlers can even the game up a little bit,” Fleming said on the eve of CSK’s highprofile match against Mumbai Indians.

“The two bouncers is one, and maybe we need to keep looking at other ways to do that. But I think from an entertainment package, it’s right up there.”

Fleming admitted that the CSK players also look forward to the competitive rivalry between the boys in yellow and blues. “We love it, to be honest. Over the years it has developed into a really competitive rivalry, and it’s based on two good teams playing successful brand of cricket.”