IPL 2022: PBKS vs RCB Review – Punjab power-hitters take RCB down
Royal Challengers Bangalore have not started their campaign they would have liked as they suffered a loss against the Punjab Kings in Match 3 of IPL 2022. The Faf du Plessis-led side, despite posting a big total, lost control in the final few overs and lost the game as a result.
RCB were off to a good start despite losing the toss at the Dr DY Patil Sports Academy, Mumbai as the youngster Anuj Rawat played a good hand of a 20-ball 21. However, du Plessis and Virat Kohli stuck together for a 118-run partnership that provided the impetus to their innings. The RCB skipper, in particular, struggled at the start but managed to hit some big ones once he got his eye in.
Once du Plessis was dismissed in the 18th over, Dinesh Karthik joined hands with Kohli and finished with a 14 ball 32. Kohli, who did not have much of the strike in the final overs, ended unbeaten on 41 as RCB posted 205 on the board.
Chasing a big score, the Punjab Kings openers Shikhar Dhawan and Mayank Agarwal were off to a flying start and got to 63 for no loss at the end of the powerplay. Agarwal perished after a well-made 32, while Bhanuka Rajapaksha dominated later. The new batters coming in did not allow the required run rate to go up but some quick wickets saw the Punjab batting sliding down.
Shahrukh Khan and Odean Smith did struggle at their start but started to pummel the RCB bowling towards the end. Smith’s unbeaten 8-ball 25 and Shahrukh’s unbeaten 24 ensured that the Punjab Kings chased down the big score with five wickets in hand and over to spare after some thunderous ball striking in the death overs from both the power hitters.
Top Performers of the Match
Faf du Plessis
Faf du Plessis played a captain’s innings of 88 off 57 deliveries at the top of the order and laid the foundation for a big score for RCB. The right-hander, despite starting slowly, ended up hitting seven sixes and three fours in the innings at a strike rate of 154.39 and showed why he is rated highly in T20 cricket.
Bhanuka Rajapaksha
Bhanuka Rajapaksha was one of the surprise packages that performed brilliantly. The left-hander struck four sixes and two fours in his 22-ball 43 and got the required run rate down considerably.
What next for the two teams?
Royal Challengers Bangalore will play the Kolkata Knight Riders in their next fixture on the 30th of March at the Dr DY Patil Sports Academy, Navi Mumbai while Punjab Kings will next play the same team on 1st April at the Wankhede Stadium.
