Bowlers Complement Kohli, Patidar As RCB Crush PBKS By 60 Runs Achi-News

Dharamsala, May 9: Virat Kohli and Rajat Patidar hit brilliant fifties before the bowlers joined the party as Royal Challengers Bengaluru kept their slim playoff hopes alive with a massive 60-run win over Punjab Kings in the IPL here on Thursday.

Kohli’s 92-ball was the cornerstone of RCB’s innings as he starred in two partnerships – 72 off 32 balls with Patidar (55 off 23 balls) and 92 off 46 balls with Cameron Green (46 off 27 balls) to propel the team. to 241 /7.

In reply, Rilee Rossouw put on a show with a 27-ball 61-run knock but Karn Sharma’s twin strike led to a collapse as PBKS were all out for 181 in 17 overs.

This was RCB’s fourth win in a row and took them to 10 points, while PBKS (8) were knocked out of the play-off race as they could only reach a maximum of 12 points from the remaining two matches .

Swapnil Singh (2/28), Karn (2/36) and Lockie Ferguson (2/29) took two each, while Mohammed Siraj (3/43) claimed three wickets for RCB.

Chasing a stiff target, PBKS lost Prabhsimran Singh (6) early but Rossouw looked unstoppable as left-arm spinner Swapnil Singh was loved for two fours before Siraj was belted for three fours and a six.

Yash Dayal and Ferguson were then hit for 16 and 14 runs by Jonny Bairstow (27) and Rossouw as PBKS scored 75 runs in six overs.

Once Bairstow was removed from Ferguson, Rossouw turned his attention to Green, hitting two fours and a six on the way to his fifty off 21 balls.

Jitesh Sharma was then cleaned up by Karn, while Swapnil removed Liam Livingstone (0) as Punjab slipped to 126 for 5 in the 12th over.

They could not recover from those shots and it was all over when Shashank Singh (37), Sam Curran (22) and Ashutosh Sharma (8) returned to the dugout.

Earlier, Kohli, who was dropped on 0 and 10, timed the ball nicely, used his feet and wrists to bring up his sixth IPL fifty this season. He reached his mark in 32 balls, before slamming another 40 in his next 15 balls. He cracked seven fours and a top six.

Patidar, who also had two lives, provided the early momentum as he slammed six fours and three fours in his 23-ball 55.

After Patidar’s dismissal, Kohli and Green continued the onslaught to take RCB past the 200 mark. Green hit five fours and a six before being caught in the last ball as RCB scored 77 in the last five overs.

Pacer Vidhwath Kaverappa (2/36) took two wickets in the powerplay on his IPL debut but his figures could have been much better if the fielders had not dropped three overs off his bowling.

Kohli was dropped in the third ball but Kaverappa dismissed Faf du Plessis (9) and removed Will Jacks (12) but PBKS could not build pressure as Sam Curran (1/50) and Harshal Patel (3/38) dropped runs.

Patel, who had dropped Patidar, conceded three boundaries in his first over as RCB scored 56 in the powerplay.

It started raining sixes after that as Kohli and Patidar slammed a maximum each to spoil Kaverappa’s bowling figures.

Patidar then bowled spinner Rahul Chahar for three highs before giving Arshdeep and Sam Curran two more sixes, the latter bringing up his fifty in 21 balls.

With Patidar on fire, RCB crossed 100 in the ninth over. However, Curran managed to get rid of Patidar in the 10th over, when rain stopped play briefly.

After resumption, Kohli completed his fifty and hit Livingstone for two fours.

Green brought up the 150 with four off Patel. Kohli then went miserable as he swept Livingstone for six, while Curran was deposed over mid-wicket for a maximum of 94 metres. He sent one over long-on for another maximum.

Dinesh Karthik (18) played a cameo before Patel claimed three wickets in the last over. PTI ATK ATK AH AH

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(This story has not been edited by News18 staff and is published from the feed of a syndicated news agency – PTI)