IPL Highlights, Royal Challengers Bangalore vs Kings XI Punjab: Bangalore Beat Punjab By Four Wickets
IPL Royal Challengers Bangalore vs Kings XI Punjab Highlights: The Virat Kohli-led secured their first win of the season.
AB de Villiers' (57) brilliant knock helped Royal Challengers Bangalore beat Kings XI Punjab by four wickets in the Indian Premier League (IPL) match on Friday. Chasing 156, opener Brendon McCullum (0) departed in the first over and skipper Virat Kohli (21) also wasted the start and went back in the fifth over. De Villiers and opener Quinton de Kock (45) then forged a crucial 54-run partnership for the third wicket before in-form de Kock was sent packing by Ravichandran Ashwin in the 12th over. Mandeep Singh (22) then came in the middle and supported de Villiers by playing some beautifully crafted shots around the ground. (Scorecard)
But just when Bangalore side was at the brink of the win, the South African player was dismissed by Andrew Tye in the 19th over. His 40-ball innings was laced with two boundaries and four sixes. Just after that, Mandeep also got run out in the same over. But at that time, it was just a formality and lower-order batsmen Chris Woakes (1 not out) and Washington Sunder (9 not out) completed it with ease.
Earlier, Kings XI Punjab were bowled out for 155 against Royal Challengers Bangalore. Lokesh Rahul (47) and skipper Ravichandran Ashwin (33) were the top scorers for Punjab. For Bangalore, pacer Umesh Yadav sclaped three wickets while Chris Woakes, Kulwant Khejroliya and Washington Sundar took two wickets each. Put in to bat, Punjab started off on a poor note, losing opener Mayank Agarwal (15), new batsmen Aaron Finch (0) and Yuvraj Singh (4) the fourth over. With the scoreboard reading 32, the Mayank and Finch were dismissed in consecutive balls, while Yuvraj was bowled on the last ball by pacer Umesh Yadav. Unperturbed by the sudden fall of wickets, opener Lokesh Rahul (47) played sensibly and also hammered the bowlers all around the park before getting out in the 12th over to spinner Washington Sundar. In his 30-ball knock, Rahul slammed two boundaries and four sixes.
Middle-order batsmen Karun Nair (29) and Marcus Stoinis (11) also failed to utilise their starts and got dismissed in the back to back overs to make scorebaord read 102/5. With their top-five players sitting in dugout, Punjab's lower-order got exposed early. Ashwin (33), however, tried to pace up the innings but in the process the off-spinner also got out in the penultimate over. Andrew Tye (7) and Mujeeb Ur Rahman (0) got out cheaply and Punjab only managed 155 runs in 19.2 overs.
When and Where to Watch: Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) vs Kings XI Punjab (KXIP)
India: TV: Star Sports 1, Star Sports 1 HD (English, Hindi, Tamil). Live Streaming: Hotstar.
UK: TV: Sky Sports 2. Live Streaming: Sky Go and Watch Sky Sports.
Bangladesh: TV: GTV and Star Sports.
USA: TV: Willow TV. Live Streaming: Willow TV Live Online.
Australia: TV: Fox Sports. Live Streaming: Foxtel.
New Zealand: TV: Sky Sport 1. Live Streaming: Sky Go NZ.
South Africa: TV: SuperSport 2. Live Streaming: SuperSport Live Video.
Middle East: TV: OSN Sports Cricket. Live Streaming: OSN Play.
Singapore: TV: Star Cricket.
RCB vs KXIP Highlights
Done and dusted with this match. Super Saturday will bring a doubleheader your way. First up, Mumbai will be hosting Delhi at 1600 IST and then later in the evening at 2000 IST, Kolkata will lock horns with Hyderabad at Eden Gardens. We look forward to your company. Until then, it's goodbye and cheers!
Umesh Yadav is chosen for the Man of the Match award. His three wickets in one over certainly broke Punjab's batting and they never really recovered after the initial blows. The speedster will be pleased with his performance tonight and would like to continue with his fine form.
A defeat tonight but Punjab will not be too disappointed. They fought hard and took this game to the last over. Mujeeb Ur Rahman was impressive once again while the other spinners also did an effective job. Eventually, it was a case of not having much on the board. Something to ponder upon for them. Their batting which looked quite strong after the first game left them with a few questions tonight. Still, there is no need to press the panic button.
Ravichandran Ashwin's double blow in one over did give hopes to Punjab but AB de Villiers' presence in the middle made it tough for them to run through. The African star threaded another crucial stand with Mandeep Singh and also went on to score a sublime half-century. He though didn't last the distance, his knock made sure that Bangalore crossed the line safely.
Bangalore are off the mark! They have registered a rather easy win in the end to open their account. Their chase started on a sorry note as they lost Brendon McCullum off the second ball of the chase. Virat Kohli and Quinton de Kock then built a little partnership to take it forward but Mujeeb's magical delivery breached the defense of Bangalore skipper and Punjab sniffed a chance. However, the partnership between the South African pair, de Kock and de Villiers, kept the home team afloat.
FOUR! BANGALORE WIN BY 4 WICKETS! A glorious cover drive to seal the deal. Mohit serves it full and wide outside off, Sundar reaches out for it and strokes it sweetly through covers for a boundary. Smiles return in the Bangalore camp as they taste their first success this season.
Ashwin very close there at mid on. Looking for a run out maybe. The batsman pulls out here as the bowler was about to bowl. The square leg umpire spots that the fielders were still moving. Hmm...reload.
A slower delivery, landing on a length and outside off, Sundar throws his bat at it but fails to make any sort of connection. Looks at the umpire but it's not given a wide. Well inside the tramline.
FOUR! This should do! Mohit is on the shorter side outside off, Sundar tries to slap it square of the wicket on the off side but it takes the outside edge and flies down to third man for a boundary. Just 1 more needed.
5 needed off 6 balls. Mohit Sharma to bowl it. Can he deny Bangalore a win?