Punjab throw a spanner in RCB’s works
The Kings XI Punjab continued to throw a spanner in the works at this stage of the IPL, beating the Royal Challengers Bangalore by 22 runs in a match cut in half by rain.
The match started more than three hours late and was cut down to 10 overs per side after prolonged efforts to clear stubborn wet patches on the outfield.
Punjab made 106 for six, which was a good score in context despite no batsman shining bright. Bangalore then reached 84 for six, losing wickets too regularly to challenge the score and putting a dent in their top two ambitions.
Bangalore won the toss and opted to chase, relying on their bowlers to keep the score at a manageable level.
KXIP got off to a flying start as Wriddhiman Saha demolished the opening bowlers, smashing 31 off 12 balls and the openers putting 34 runs on the board inside three overs. Saha fell to David Wiese though.
The rest of the top order were unable to pass 14 though, with everyone getting to double figures and then falling. Glenn Maxwell's poor tournament continued as he was out for 10, while David Miller made 14 and George Bailey 13.
Axar Patel was the man to push the score past 100, and he was the only other man to get out of the teens, making 20 not out off 15 balls. Harshal Patel was the pick of the RCB bowlers, taking two wickets for 12 runs.
RCB's chase started off decently as Chris Gayle and Virat Kohli came out firing, but once skipper Kohli was out for 19, the wickets kept falling. Gayle was remved for 17, while AB de Villiers could only add 10.
Mandeep Singh did try to keep the chase on track, but he was out for 20, and Dinesh Karthik and Sarfaraz Khan were removed for single figures. Axar's two for 11 was key to the win.
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