![Royal Challengers Bangalore skipper Virat Kohli and Faf du Plessis during their match against Punjab Kings in the Indian Premier League 2023 at Punjab Cricket Association IS Bindra Stadium in Mohali on April 20, 2023. Photo: IPL via ANI Royal Challengers Bangalore skipper Virat Kohli and Faf du Plessis during their match against Punjab Kings in the Indian Premier League 2023 at Punjab Cricket Association IS Bindra Stadium in Mohali on April 20, 2023. Photo: IPL via ANI](https://i0.wp.com/www.thehindu.com/theme/images/th-online/1x1_spacer.png?w=696&ssl=1)
Royal Challengers Bangalore skipper Virat Kohli and Faf du Plessis throughout their match in opposition to Punjab Kings within the Indian Premier League 2023 at Punjab Cricket Association IS Bindra Stadium in Mohali on April 20, 2023. Photo: IPL through ANI
Faf du Plessis performed a particular knock regardless of a rib harm earlier than Mohammed Siraj produced his greatest figures within the IPL to arrange a 24-run win for Royal Challengers Bangalore in opposition to Punjab Kings in Mohali on Thursday. Playing as an ‘Impact Player’ on account of his harm, Du Plessis plundered 84 off 56 balls and shared a 137-run opening wicket stand with stand-in captain Virat Kohli (59 off 47) to steer RCB to 174 for 4 after being put in to bat.
Though in-form skipper Shikhar Dhawan was unavailable for the second recreation in a row, Punjab had sufficient firepower to chase down 175 however misplaced too many wickets at first of the chase.
Siraj delivered with wickets with the brand new ball in addition to within the dying overs to finish up with 4/21 in 4 overs and safe a welcome victory for his group. Jitesh Sharma’s counter-attacking 41 off 27 for Punjab went in useless.
It was RCB’s third win in six video games whereas Punjab suffered their third loss in six matches.
Siraj was too sizzling to deal with within the powerplay as he eliminated left-hander Atharva Taide with a pointy inswinger off the second ball of the innings earlier than eradicating the harmful Liam Livingstone within the fourth over. Both lbw dismissals got here after profitable DRS evaluations.
Wanindu Hasaranga then castled Matthew Short with a googly earlier than run-outs of Sam Curran and Harpreet Bhatia made issues worse for the house group.
At 97 for six, the sport appeared performed and dusted however Jitesh Sharma saved Punjab within the recreation with some clear hitting, particularly down the bottom. He ran out of companions ultimately.
Earlier, at 91 for no loss in 10 overs, RCB had been on track for 200 plus whole however Punjab bowled properly within the center and dying overs to limit the opposition.
Du Plessis hammered 5 sixes and as many fours in his belligerent knock. Like he typically does, the previous South Africa skipper was not afraid to point out his stumps to the spinners to free his arms for the massive photographs.
Kohli made 59 off 47 balls although the primary half of his innings was extra fluent.
It was the fourth fifty plus rating for the RCB openers this season, highlighting their consistency.
RCB can be a tad disappointment with the overall they ended up with after a flying begin from du Plessis and Kohli, who fired their group to 59 for no loss within the powerplay.
Arshdeep Singh and Curran employed the short-ball tactic in opposition to du Plessis and Kohli with the brand new ball however it didn’t work.
The Indian star started along with his trademark cowl drive off spinner Harpreet Brar earlier than pulling a brief ball from Arshdeep over quick effective leg for one other 4 within the third over.
Du Plessis acquired going with a few sixes off Brar, who opened the bowling alongside Arshdeep.
The South African made room for a large straight six over Brar’s head and adopted it up with one other one broad of lengthy on. However, his better of the lot was the straight six off pacer Nathan Ellis as he stood sill to slap it over the bowler’s head.
RCB may solely handle 83 runs off the final 60 balls. Rahul Chahar and Sam Curran couldn’t take wickets however didn’t permit the batters to interrupt free.
Scores:
Punjab Kings: Atharva Taidelbw b Siraj 4 Prabhsimran Singhb Parnell 46 Matthew Shortb W Hasaranga 8 Liam Livingstonelbw b Siraj 2 Harpreet Singh Bhatia run out (Siraj) 13 Sam Curran run out (W Hasaranga) 10 Jitesh Sharma c Shahbaz Ahmed b Harshal Patel 41 Shahrukh Khanst Karthik b W Hasaranga 7 Harpreet Brarb Siraj13 Nathan Ellisb Siraj1 Arshdeep Singh not out 0 Extras: (B-1,LB-1,W-2, NB-1) 5 Total: (all out in 18.2 overs) 150 Fall of wickets: 1-4, 2-20, 3-27, 4-43, 5-76, 6-97, 7-106, 8-147, 9-149, 10-150.
Bowling: Mohammed Siraj 4-0-21-4, Wayne Parnell 3-0-32-1, Wanindu Hasaranga de Silva 4-0-39-2, Vijaykumar Vyshak 3-0-29-0, Glenn Maxwell 1-0-5-0, Harshal Patel 3.2-0-22-1.