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Tag: Punjab Kings

  • IPL 2022: Delhi Capitals’ match vs Punjab Kings starts after Tim Seifert tests COVID-19 positive

    By PTI

    MUMBAI: The cloud over the IPL game between Delhi Capitals and Punjab Kings was lifted an hour before the game on Wednesday after the BCCI confirmed that the match will go on despite a sixth COVID positive case being reported in the Delhi camp on game day.

    New Zealand cricketer Tim Seifert testing positive on the morning of the game raised serious doubts over the fixture but the rest of the Delhi squad members returning two negative tests put the match back on track.

    “The entire Delhi Capitals contingent underwent 2 rounds of COVID testing today. Match No. 32 involving Delhi Capitals and Punjab Kings scheduled today at Brabourne – CCI will go ahead as per the schedule after the second round of COVID tests returned negative today,” said the BCCI in a statement.

    High drama unfolded in the lead up to the game with Seifert becoming the sixth member from Delhi contingent to test positive. Australian all-rounder Mitchell Marsh had tested positive on Monday. Punjab had reached the Brabourne Stadium on schedule but Delhi just about about managed to reach in nick of time.

    With Delhi players having to deal with stress and suspense caused by the COVID outbreak, it would be tough for them to just turn up and perform to their potential. “It is tough as we have got very little time to train after the last game,” said a player on the condition of anonymity.

    As per the IPL regulations, a minimum of 12 players including seven Indians are needed for the game to go ahead in case of a COVID outbreak. There is also an option to reschedule the game if the minimum player requirement is not met.

    The BCCI was on Tuesday forced to shift the game to Mumbai from Pune “to avoid any further incident due to any undetected case during a long-distance bus journey in a closed environment”. Delhi’s next game on April 22 has also been moved to Mumbai from Pune.

    “The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on Wednesday announced a change of venue for Match No.34 – Delhi Capital versus Rajasthan Royals from MCA Stadium, Pune to Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai scheduled on April 22, 2022.

    “The decision on the change of venue was made as a precautionary measure after Delhi Capitals registered the 6th COVID case with New Zealand wicketkeeper Mr Tim Seifert returning positive in today’s RT-PCR testing,” BCCI added.

    Delhi physio Patrick Farhart and sports massage therapist Chetan Kumar had tested positive last week while Marsh, who is hospitalised, team doctor Abhijit Salvi and social media content team member Akash Mane returned positive tests on Monday.

    Seifert had also contracted the virus last season when he was with the Kolkata Knight Riders. Multiple cases across four teams had forced the organisers to suspended the IPL last season before it was completed in the UAE in September-October.

    MUMBAI: The cloud over the IPL game between Delhi Capitals and Punjab Kings was lifted an hour before the game on Wednesday after the BCCI confirmed that the match will go on despite a sixth COVID positive case being reported in the Delhi camp on game day.

    New Zealand cricketer Tim Seifert testing positive on the morning of the game raised serious doubts over the fixture but the rest of the Delhi squad members returning two negative tests put the match back on track.

    “The entire Delhi Capitals contingent underwent 2 rounds of COVID testing today. Match No. 32 involving Delhi Capitals and Punjab Kings scheduled today at Brabourne – CCI will go ahead as per the schedule after the second round of COVID tests returned negative today,” said the BCCI in a statement.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

    High drama unfolded in the lead up to the game with Seifert becoming the sixth member from Delhi contingent to test positive. Australian all-rounder Mitchell Marsh had tested positive on Monday. Punjab had reached the Brabourne Stadium on schedule but Delhi just about about managed to reach in nick of time.

    With Delhi players having to deal with stress and suspense caused by the COVID outbreak, it would be tough for them to just turn up and perform to their potential. “It is tough as we have got very little time to train after the last game,” said a player on the condition of anonymity.

    As per the IPL regulations, a minimum of 12 players including seven Indians are needed for the game to go ahead in case of a COVID outbreak. There is also an option to reschedule the game if the minimum player requirement is not met.

    The BCCI was on Tuesday forced to shift the game to Mumbai from Pune “to avoid any further incident due to any undetected case during a long-distance bus journey in a closed environment”. Delhi’s next game on April 22 has also been moved to Mumbai from Pune.

    “The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on Wednesday announced a change of venue for Match No.34 – Delhi Capital versus Rajasthan Royals from MCA Stadium, Pune to Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai scheduled on April 22, 2022.

    “The decision on the change of venue was made as a precautionary measure after Delhi Capitals registered the 6th COVID case with New Zealand wicketkeeper Mr Tim Seifert returning positive in today’s RT-PCR testing,” BCCI added.

    Delhi physio Patrick Farhart and sports massage therapist Chetan Kumar had tested positive last week while Marsh, who is hospitalised, team doctor Abhijit Salvi and social media content team member Akash Mane returned positive tests on Monday.

    Seifert had also contracted the virus last season when he was with the Kolkata Knight Riders. Multiple cases across four teams had forced the organisers to suspended the IPL last season before it was completed in the UAE in September-October.

  • Delhi Capitals’ Tim Seifert tests positive for COVID, tonight’s game against Punjab Kings under doubt

    By PTI

    MUMBAI: The IPL game between Delhi Capitals and Punjab Kings on Wednesday evening has been put under serious doubt after wicket-keeper batter Tim Seifert tested positive for COVID-19.

    The New Zealand player is the second overseas cricketer in the Capitals team after Australian all-rounder Mitchell Marsh to catch the infection, taking the overall count of positive cases to six.

    The positive case emerged after a fresh round of testing conducted on Wednesday morning, according to a BCCI source.

    “As far as we know, Tim Seifert of New Zealand has tested positive,” said a BCCI source.

    “We were tested in the morning and we will be tested again shortly. We continue to be isolated,” said a player on the condition of anonymity.

    Officials from the Punjab franchise told PTI the squad was ready to leave for the venue.

    As per the IPL regulations, a minimum of 12 players including seven Indians are needed for the game to go ahead in case of a COVID outbreak.

    There is also an option to reschedule the game if the minimum player requirement is not met.

    The BCCI was on Tuesday forced to shift the game to Mumbai from Pune “to avoid any further incident due to any undetected case during a long-distance bus journey in a closed environment”.

    Delhi physio Patrick Farhart and sports massage therapist Chetan Kumar had tested positive last week while Marsh, who is hospitalised, team doctor Abhijit Salvi and social media content team member Akash Mane returned positive tests on Monday.

    Seifert had also contracted the virus last season when he was with the Kolkata Knight Riders.

    Multiple cases across four teams had forced the organisers to suspended the IPL last season before it was completed in the UAE in September-October.

  • IPL 2022: Delhi Capitals’ match vs Punjab Kings starts after Tim Seifert tests COVID-19 positive

    By PTI

    MUMBAI: The cloud over the IPL game between Delhi Capitals and Punjab Kings was lifted an hour before the game on Wednesday after the BCCI confirmed that the match will go on despite a sixth COVID positive case being reported in the Delhi camp on game day.

    New Zealand cricketer Tim Seifert testing positive on the morning of the game raised serious doubts over the fixture but the rest of the Delhi squad members returning two negative tests put the match back on track.

    “The entire Delhi Capitals contingent underwent 2 rounds of COVID testing today. Match No. 32 involving Delhi Capitals and Punjab Kings scheduled today at Brabourne – CCI will go ahead as per the schedule after the second round of COVID tests returned negative today,” said the BCCI in a statement.

    High drama unfolded in the lead up to the game with Seifert becoming the sixth member from Delhi contingent to test positive. Australian all-rounder Mitchell Marsh had tested positive on Monday. Punjab had reached the Brabourne Stadium on schedule but Delhi just about about managed to reach in nick of time.

    With Delhi players having to deal with stress and suspense caused by the COVID outbreak, it would be tough for them to just turn up and perform to their potential. “It is tough as we have got very little time to train after the last game,” said a player on the condition of anonymity.

    As per the IPL regulations, a minimum of 12 players including seven Indians are needed for the game to go ahead in case of a COVID outbreak. There is also an option to reschedule the game if the minimum player requirement is not met.

    The BCCI was on Tuesday forced to shift the game to Mumbai from Pune “to avoid any further incident due to any undetected case during a long-distance bus journey in a closed environment”. Delhi’s next game on April 22 has also been moved to Mumbai from Pune.

    “The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on Wednesday announced a change of venue for Match No.34 – Delhi Capital versus Rajasthan Royals from MCA Stadium, Pune to Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai scheduled on April 22, 2022.

    “The decision on the change of venue was made as a precautionary measure after Delhi Capitals registered the 6th COVID case with New Zealand wicketkeeper Mr Tim Seifert returning positive in today’s RT-PCR testing,” BCCI added.

    Delhi physio Patrick Farhart and sports massage therapist Chetan Kumar had tested positive last week while Marsh, who is hospitalised, team doctor Abhijit Salvi and social media content team member Akash Mane returned positive tests on Monday.

    Seifert had also contracted the virus last season when he was with the Kolkata Knight Riders. Multiple cases across four teams had forced the organisers to suspended the IPL last season before it was completed in the UAE in September-October.

  • My long association with MI will not come in the way of doing my job for PBKS: Rahul Chahar

    By IANS

    PUNE: Punjab Kings’ (PBKS) leg-spinner Rahul Chahar has asserted that his long association with Mumbai India (MI) will not come in the way of his job when his side takes on the Rohit Sharma-led five-time IPL champions at the Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium here later on Wednesday.

    The 22-year-old Chahar also indicated that he is making “specific plans” for the MI batters, who have struggled for form in IPL 2022, unable to open their account on the points’ tables after four defeats.

    Chahar is currently in great form, having picked seven wickets from four games so far. He was an integral part of Mumbai Indians for four seasons, from 2018 till 2021.

    With Chahar in their ranks, PBKS would hope to pile more misery on MI, given that they have the advantage of having someone who knows the opposition inside-out.

    “I will definitely try to give my hundred per cent as always. Mainly, there are two or three batters who are challenging to bowl against that I have my eye on. Suryakumar Yadav, for instance, is in great form. Rohit (Sharma), too, is a top batter,” Chahar said, indicating that he would be targeting two of MI’s mainstays.

    “I am preparing well for them and looking forward to bowling to them. I am also making specific plans for all of these guys, let’s see how it goes,” Chahar added.

    Chahar revealed how having a familiar opponent is nothing new to him. “From childhood, I have played against my brother. It doesn’t matter if he is in front of me or anybody else. My job is to make my team win, and I will do whatever it takes to get that result,” Chahar said.

    He also said that his game is immaterial of who he is playing against. “As a player, when you step onto the field, it does not matter who is playing against you. I just want to perform my best every single game, and this does not change anything about it,” he added.

    Chahar has been in fighting form this season, snaring seven wickets with an economy rate of 6.31.

    PUNE: Punjab Kings’ (PBKS) leg-spinner Rahul Chahar has asserted that his long association with Mumbai India (MI) will not come in the way of his job when his side takes on the Rohit Sharma-led five-time IPL champions at the Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium here later on Wednesday.

    The 22-year-old Chahar also indicated that he is making “specific plans” for the MI batters, who have struggled for form in IPL 2022, unable to open their account on the points’ tables after four defeats.

    Chahar is currently in great form, having picked seven wickets from four games so far. He was an integral part of Mumbai Indians for four seasons, from 2018 till 2021.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

    With Chahar in their ranks, PBKS would hope to pile more misery on MI, given that they have the advantage of having someone who knows the opposition inside-out.

    “I will definitely try to give my hundred per cent as always. Mainly, there are two or three batters who are challenging to bowl against that I have my eye on. Suryakumar Yadav, for instance, is in great form. Rohit (Sharma), too, is a top batter,” Chahar said, indicating that he would be targeting two of MI’s mainstays.

    “I am preparing well for them and looking forward to bowling to them. I am also making specific plans for all of these guys, let’s see how it goes,” Chahar added.

    Chahar revealed how having a familiar opponent is nothing new to him. “From childhood, I have played against my brother. It doesn’t matter if he is in front of me or anybody else. My job is to make my team win, and I will do whatever it takes to get that result,” Chahar said.

    He also said that his game is immaterial of who he is playing against. “As a player, when you step onto the field, it does not matter who is playing against you. I just want to perform my best every single game, and this does not change anything about it,” he added.

    Chahar has been in fighting form this season, snaring seven wickets with an economy rate of 6.31.

  • My long association with MI will not come in the way of doing my job for PBKS: Rahul Chahar

    By IANS

    PUNE: Punjab Kings’ (PBKS) leg-spinner Rahul Chahar has asserted that his long association with Mumbai India (MI) will not come in the way of his job when his side takes on the Rohit Sharma-led five-time IPL champions at the Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium here later on Wednesday.

    The 22-year-old Chahar also indicated that he is making “specific plans” for the MI batters, who have struggled for form in IPL 2022, unable to open their account on the points’ tables after four defeats.

    Chahar is currently in great form, having picked seven wickets from four games so far. He was an integral part of Mumbai Indians for four seasons, from 2018 till 2021.

    With Chahar in their ranks, PBKS would hope to pile more misery on MI, given that they have the advantage of having someone who knows the opposition inside-out.

    “I will definitely try to give my hundred per cent as always. Mainly, there are two or three batters who are challenging to bowl against that I have my eye on. Suryakumar Yadav, for instance, is in great form. Rohit (Sharma), too, is a top batter,” Chahar said, indicating that he would be targeting two of MI’s mainstays.

    “I am preparing well for them and looking forward to bowling to them. I am also making specific plans for all of these guys, let’s see how it goes,” Chahar added.

    Chahar revealed how having a familiar opponent is nothing new to him. “From childhood, I have played against my brother. It doesn’t matter if he is in front of me or anybody else. My job is to make my team win, and I will do whatever it takes to get that result,” Chahar said.

    He also said that his game is immaterial of who he is playing against. “As a player, when you step onto the field, it does not matter who is playing against you. I just want to perform my best every single game, and this does not change anything about it,” he added.

    Chahar has been in fighting form this season, snaring seven wickets with an economy rate of 6.31.

  • IPL 2022: Gujarat Titans too good for Punjab Kings’ all-or-nothing approach

    Express News Service

    CHENNAI: There was something strange about Punjab Kings’ innings. Since the start of the season, with fresh faces at their disposal, they have already established a style of play with the bat, which is to be committed in attack no matter what. These are early days but when it led to their downfall against Kolkata Knight Riders, they bounced back by sticking to the philosophy against Chennai Super Kings.

    Against Gujarat Titans, as Punjab finished with 189/9 on board, they left you wondering if they had managed a very good total or they left a few more runs behind at the Brabourne Stadium. And with 12 runs needed off two balls as Rahul Tewatia hit Odean Smith for two sixes to keep Gujarat Titans unbeaten, you knew where it cost Punjab. More on that latter.

    At the end of the powerplay with Mayank Agarwal (5) and Jonny Bairstow (8) dismissed, Punjab were placed 43/2. This was their slowest start to an innings this season.

    Prior to this contest against Gujarat, they had been scoring at 10.9 RPO in the powerplay for the loss of five wickets. And instrumental to that has been Bhanuka Rajapaksa, who had to make way for Bairstow on Friday. Given the context, Gujarat started really well to keep Punjab quiet by their standards.

    The middle-overs is where teams usually tend to slow down, they have maintained the momentum. Against Royal Challengers Bangalore they scored 99 runs between overs 7-16 for the loss of 5 wickets and in their match against Chennai got 80 runs. And these were on the back of them getting off to a good start.

    But on Friday, having lost two key players and Shikhar Dhawan far from his fluent best (35 off 30b), they still managed to stick to their philosophy and keep them in the contest by scoring 112 runs from seventh over to the 16th.

    And it was largely thanks to Liam Livingstone, whose 27-ball 64 (7×4, 46) changed the momentum single-handedly. Starting his innings by scoring a boundary off the first ball, he played only three dot balls in total.

    Although he lost Dhawan, Jitesh Sharma ensured the pressure wasn’t on Livingstone alone, scoring 23 off 11. While Odean Smith was dismissed off the first ball he faced – stuck to their philosophy, went for a big shot and was caught on long-on – Shahrukh Khan contributed 15 off 8.

    Yet, as they finished their innings, it felt as if they still left a few more runs behind. Having scored at 7 runs an over at the end of as many overs, from there on, Punjab’s run-rate gradually increased 10.13 at the end of 15 overs.

    With no more specialist batters to follow, the onus was on Livingstone and Shahrukh to ferry them to a total that would be beyond Gujarat’s reach. Instead, both perished, trying to go after Rashid Khan.

    It meant, Punjab managed 34 more runs, it still felt the target was not beyond Gujarat’s reach.With Shubman Gill (96) showing the way, they remained in the hunt right through with Sai Sudarshan (35), Hardik Pandya (27) making key contributions before Tewatia finished it up in his trademark style.

    Which brings the question, did Punjab’s approach cost them dear on the night, especially at the end. A few more runs would have given them the cushion, but it is the risk that Punjab are willing to take for playing a brand of cricket that is surely going to make everyone sit and enjoy in their couch.

    Brief Scores: Punjab Kings 189/9 in 20 overs (Livingstone 64, Dhawan 35; Rashid 3/35) lost to Gujarat Titans 190/4 in 20 overs (Gill 96, Sudharsan 35; Rabada 2/35)

  • Bowlers deliver, but batters hand CSK third successive defeat

    Express News Service

    CHENNAI: In their second match against Lucknow Super Giants, which they lost, Chennai Super Kings did something that is so uncharacteristic of them. In conditions which their head coach Stephen Fleming later termed it as ‘Niagara Falls’, they handed the ball to two rookies Shivam Dube and Mukhesh Choudhary to bowl 19th and 20th over with 34 runs needed.

    With 210 to defend, as Fleming said, at no stage did they feel comfortable. The dew factor which made it difficult for their spinners to grip the ball and took them out of equation, it also made certain deliveries impossible to execute for seamers. In such conditions, unless you have experience behind you, it is impossible to get your plans right. And other than the dew factor, what they missed against Lucknow was the experience of Deepak Chahar and one of Adam Milne and Chris Jordan.

    On Sunday, against Punjab Kings, they got Jordan back and for a change, had only one inexperienced seamer – Choudhary. While at the end of the player auctions, all things pointed out to Moeen Ali, Devon Conway, Dwayne Bravo and Adam Milne being their first-choice overseas players, the absence of Chahar has changed all of it. As Chahar continues his rehabilitation process, the presence of three seam-bowling all-rounders — Bravo, Jordan and Dwaine Pretorius —  who are more than quite handy with the bat has allowed Chennai to be flexible.

    To compensate for Conway’s omission, Chennai, especially given the conditions which make spinners redundant in the second innings of the match, have chosen to strengthen their bowling. And in Bravo, Pretorius and Jordan have three bowlers who could be used in the end and in the middle. Although Jordan was only playing his first match for Chennai on Sunday, you could see what he brought to the table.

    A skillful T20 operator whose seam-up can be used in the powerplay and an excellent exponent of yorkers in the death, he played the role to perfection. And so did Bravo and Pretorius – another bowler who has compromised on pace for variety and is a death-over specialist for South Africa. On a day where Chennai conceded 180, the three collectively gave away only 85 runs in 11 overs and shared five wickets between them, defying the conditions.

    Like they did against Lucknow, where despite extremely harsh wet conditions, managed to keep the batters in check by bowling wide yorkers and full-deliveries outside off-stump, the trio did the same here against Punjab. That despite being 109/3 at the end of 10 overs, Punjab posted only 180 was largely thanks to the trio.

    But, if rustiness did them in their first match against Kolkata Knight Riders and dew had a say in their defeat to Lucknow, on Sunday Chennai Super Kings had only themselves to blame. Especially the batting unit, which lost four wickets by the time the powerplay ended and had only 27 runs on board. And from there on, Chennai headed only one way, towards, their third successive defeat to the campaign, a feat they have never managed in their history.

    Of course, these are early days, but it is looking far from ideal for Chennai. While they finally seem to have found the right attack, which only strengthen when Chahar returns, unless their batting finds the mojo, this could turn out to be 2020.

    Brief Scores: PBKS 180/8 in 20 overs (Livingstone 60; Jordan 2/23, Pretorius 2/30) bt CSK 126/7 in 18 overs (Dube 57; R Chahar 3/25 Livingstone 2/25, Vaibhav 2/21)

  • Power failure leads to CSK’s third successive defeat

    Express News Service

    CHENNAI: By the time the batting powerplay ended, the match was as good as over for Chennai Super Kings. Punjab Kings’ total of 180 didn’t look all that daunting at the Brabourne Stadium in Mumbai. The smile on Chennai captain Ravindra Jadeja’s face after winning the toss and choosing to bowl first was revealing. That teams have been preferring to chase keeping the dew factor in mind was not surprising, but for Chennai, it was all the more important.

    Having lost two successive matches, Chennai desperately needed this win. Lose here to Punjab and the road ahead will not get any easy, particularly in a format where you play four opponents only once. And despite their bowlers doing a good job after Liam Livingstone (60 off 32b) threatened to take Punjab to a total beyond Chennai’s reach, the defending champions’ batting unit lost the plot at the top. Ruturaj Gaikwad, Robin Uthappa, Moeen Ali and Jadeja were back in the hut inside the powerplay, leaving Chennai reeling at 27/4. And from there on, Chennai headed only one way, towards, their third successive defeat in the campaign, a feat they had never experienced in their history.

    It was a total contrast to how Punjab had started their innings with the bat. Despite losing Mayank Agarwal and Bhanuka Rajapaksa within the second over, they still managed to get 72 runs in the powerplay without the loss of any further wickets. That in Livingstone, they had a free-wheeling batter, who was always going to attack at all points only made it difficult for Chennai. 72/2 became 109/3 by the end of 10 overs. At that stage, 200 looked very much within Punjab’s reach.

    The flipside of Chennai missing Deepak Chahar means it has allowed them to strengthen their seam-bowling depth with their overseas recruits. That Dwayne Bravo, Dwaine Pretorius and Chris Jordan can be counted to bowl in the latter half of the innings and also contribute with the bat is a luxury that only a few teams can enjoy. And this alone seems to be the only area, which is going in a positive direction for Chennai. Bowling full or Yorker lengths wide of off-stump and by mixing their lengths, all three have a knack for bowling to the fields. And on a day where Chennai conceded 180, the three collectively gave away only 85 runs in 11 overs and shared five wickets between them.

    Against teams that have enough firepower in the batting, but are thin on depth, striking early wickets is the ideal scenario. With Chahar missing, Chennai have been unable to get those early breakthroughs. They have picked up only three wickets in the powerplay overs in the three matches they have played and it is beginning to reflect on the overall outcome.

    The story is ditto with the bat. In the first match against Kolkata Knight Riders, they lost two wickets in the powerplay and followed it by one against Lucknow Super Giants. And on Sunday, they lost four. With Chahar missing and the need to strengthen their bowling meant Chennai had to omit opener Devon Conway, a steady man at the top. If bowling was a concern against Lucknow, it was batting that failed against Punjab as Chennai remain winless.

    Brief Scores: PBKS 180/8 in 20 ovs (Livingstone 60; Jordan 2/23, Pretorius 2/30) bt CSK 126/7 in 18 ovs (Dube 57; R Chahar 3/25 Livingstone 2/25, Vaibhav 2/21)

  • Punjab Kings stun RCB by five wickets in high-scoring IPL tie

    By PTI

    NAVI MUMBAI: Newly-appointed skipper Faf du Plessis’ scintillating 57-ball 88 went in vain as Punjab Kings produced a solid batting display to script a successful chase for a five-wicket win over Royal Challengers Bangalore in a thrilling IPL match here on Sunday.

    While Du Plessis showed his six-hitting prowess, hammering seven maximums in his whirlwind knock, Virat Kohli also chipped in with an unbeaten 41 off 29 balls while Dinesh Karthik made a quickfire 32 not out as RCB posted a massive 205 for 2 after being invited to bat.

    The chase was steep but not impossible and Punjab produced a sensational effort to overhaul the target, scoring 208 for 5 with an entire over to spare.

    While Mayank Agarwal (32 off 24) and Shikhar Dhawan (43 off 29) added 71 for the first wicket to lay the foundation for the chase, Bhanuka Rajapaksa (43 off 22) also shone on his IPL debut after Punjab suffered a collapse and seemed down and out at 156 for 5.

    However, Shahrukh Khan (24 not out off 20 balls) and Odean Smith (25 not out off 8 balls) then joined hands to complete the job in the end.

    The duo shared a 52-run unbroken stand off just 25 balls for the sixth wicket to take Punjab home.

    Smith smashed three sixes and a four off Mohammed Siraj in the 18th over to accumulate 25 runs and bring down the equation to 11 from the final two overs.

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    Shahrukh, who hit one four and two maximums, finished the game with a boundary as Mayank Agarwal started his captaincy tenure with a win.

    Earlier, RCB skipper du Plessis and Kohli added 118 runs for the second wicket after the former and Anuj Rawat (21) had laid the foundation with their 50 run-stand.

    RCB amassed 11 ‘extra’ runs, off the second over off Arshdeep Singh.

    Du Plessis got his first boundary in the third, while in the same over, Rawat hit his first maximum, as RCB raced to 23/0. Rawat hit successive boundaries in the sixth over, off Odean Smith. But leg-spinner Rahul Chahar (1/22) cut short Rawat’s stay by cleaning him up in the seventh over.

    Kohli came in and he took time to settle down.

    After successive twos, Kohli’s first maximum came in the 10th over as RCB fetched 13 runs off it and at 70/1, the foundation was laid for a big total.

    Former South Africa skipper Du Plessis, who got a ‘life’, made optimum use of it and then upped the ante, as the carnage started from the 12th over when he hammered a towering six off Liam Livingstone.

    Du Plessis was brutal on Odean Smith, whom he hammered for a boundary and two successive sixes. He followed it up with two sixes off Harpreet Brar (0/38).

    Kohli, who hit a four and two sixes, was also in his elements, as he played shots at will. He, however, played second fiddle to Du Plessis when the South African was in full flow.

    Du Plessis was dismissed in the 18th over, but by then the damage had been done.A quickfire 32 from Karthik off just 14 balls, in which he smashed three sixes and as many fours, took RCB beyond the 200-run mark. But in the end even that would not prove to be enough.

  • IPL 2022: Punjab Kings stun RCB by five wickets in high-scoring tie

    Express News Service

    BENGALURU: There were a lot of similarities between Royal Challengers Bangalore and Punjab Kings, ahead of their first game of IPL 2022 in Mumbai on Sunday. Despite possessing a star-studded line-up in the past, both teams have underachieved, failing to win the title.

    The 15th edition is a fresh guard for both with two new captains. If Faf Du Plessis has been handed the responsibility for Bangalore, Mayank Agarwal was the chosen one for Punjab.

    If their first game is any indication, Du Plessis has taken the new responsibility like duck to water, top-scoring with 88 runs to help his team score 205/2, a challenging score on any surface. One also needs to applaud Virat Kohli, who helped Du Plessis get into the groove with the former scoring runs quite briskly. 

    But then, there was no way Punjab could be taken easily, especially with established T20 players in their side. Punjab did manage to score at a good rate in the powerplay, with Agarwal leading from the front, scoring a 24-ball 32.

    That set the tone for the other batters as they reached their 100 in the 11th over with Shikhar Dhawan bringing in all his experience into play while Bhanuka Rajapaksa brought his A-game. Odean Smith and Shahrukh Khan put up an unbeaten 52-run partnership in 25 balls to seal the match. 

    Brief scores: RCB 205/2 in 20 overs (Du Plessis 88) lost to PBKS 208/5 in 19 overs (Rajapaksa 43, Dhawan 43, Agarwal 32, Odean 25 n.o)