Royal Challengers Bengaluru's (RCB) designated finisher Dinesh Karthik turned back the clock against Punjab Kings (PBKS) and helped his side win by four wickets. In front of the crowd at M.Chinnaswamy Stadium, Karthik turned the game upside down in the slog overs with the help of impact player Mahipal Lomror. After Virat Kohli’s wicket, RCB looked in trouble but the unbeaten 48-run partnership for the seventh wicket from 18 balls helped the home side get over the line with four balls to spare.
Slow start for PBKS
Earlier, Faf du Plessis won the toss and opted to field first. Shikhar Dhawan started the winnings with a boundary off Mohammed Siraj. Yash Dayal started with an economical over conceding just one run. Jonny Bairstow went after Siraj hitting him for two fours in a row. But he took one risk too many and Kohli took an easy catch to dismiss him for a single-digit score. Prabhsimran Singh and Dhawan hit a couple of boundaries each during fielding restrictions. PBKS were 40/1 after six overs. Prabhsimran hit the first six of the innings off Cameron Green. Dhawan took on left-arm spinner Mayank Dagar and hit him for a six.
Maxwell strikes in middle overs
Du Plessis introduced Maxwell into the attack. He was welcomed by Dhawan with a four. Prabhsimran hit a six but got out the next ball. He scored 25 runs from 17 balls. Liam Livingstone attacked Maxwell and hit him for a four followed by a six. Alzarri Joseph got the better of Livingstone with a short ball. He scored 17 runs from 13 balls. Maxwell in his third over ended Dhawan's stay at the crease. He scored 45 runs from 37 deliveries.
Shashank’s cameo helps PBKS finish on a high
Dagar was brought back into the attack and Jitesh Sharma hit him for two consecutive sixes. Sam Curran accelerated in the 18th over with two fours against Dayal. The left-arm pacer had the last laugh as he dismissed him with a well-directed bouncer. Curran departed for a 17-ball 23. Siraj bowled a terrific penultimate over. Jitesh departed for a 20-ball 27 after miscuing a shot off a short ball. In the final over, Shashank Singh hit Joseph for two sixes and a four to help PBKS post 176/6. Shashank remained unbeaten for 8-ball 21.
Kohli gets second life, attacks in powerplay overs
In the run chase, Curran almost got PBKS the wicket of Kohli. The outside edge carried to Bairstow he dropped it at first slip. Kohli made it count and hit three more fours in the over. Arshdeep Singh started with an economical four-run over. Kagiso Rabada was introduced into the attack and was welcomed by Kohli with a four. But Rabada got the wicket of Du Plessis with a fuller length delivery. Kohli continued to attack after an early reprieve. He hit Arshdeep for three fours in the fourth over. Rabada in his second over got the wicket of Green for a single-digit score. After a duck in the season opener, Rajat Patidar got off the mark with a four. Curran was brought back into the attack and he created another chance. Rahul Chahar almost pulled off a screamer at short midwicket. After powerplay overs, RCB were 50/2.
Kohli keeps run chase alive, Brar keeps a lid on boundaries
Harpreet Brar and Harshal Patel tried to put pressure on Kohli and Patidar. They release the pressure in Chahar's over with one six each. In the 10th over, Kohli reached his half-century from 31 balls. Brar was brought back into the attack and he got Patidar's wicket. He contributed with a run-a-ball 18. Kohli took the charge again as Maxwell was new to the crease. He hit Patel for a maximum and finished the 12th over with a four. Brar continued to make an impact as Maxwell dragged the ball on to his stumps and departed for a single-digit score. Brar finished with bowling figures of 13 runs for two wickets. Kohli attacked Patel again and hit him for two fours. But former RCB pacer won the battle. Kohli sliced one to deep backward point fielder Brar. He scored 77 runs from 49 balls including 11 fours and a couple of sixes.
Karthik – the finisher arrives
Curran was brought back into the attack. He ended Rawat's stay at the crease by trapping him in front of the stumps. He scored 11 runs from 14 balls. Impact player Mahipal Lomror got off the mark with a four. Dinesh Karthik scored a boundary as well. Arshdeep was not impressive in the 18th over. Lomror hit him for a 92-metre maximum followed by a four off a short ball. In the penultimate over, Karthik hit Patel for a four. The pacer erred on the fifth ball and was smashed for a six over fine leg. In the final over, RCB needed 10 overs. On the first ball, Karthik scooped it over fine leg for a maximum. Arshdeep followed it up with a wide. Karthik finished the match with a boundary down the ground as RCB won by four wickets. He remained unbeaten for 28 off 10 balls. On the other hand, Lomror contributed with 17 off eight balls.
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