Kings XI Punjab never looked out of touch as they chased the mammoth target of 203 against Royal Challengers Bangalore in the Indian Premier League and that was because of significant performances by their batsmen.
Chris Gayle and KL Rahul started the innings brilliantly and although Gayle was dismissed early, Rahul continued to score at a brisk rate and he stitched together a decent partnership with Mayank Agarwal. Even after their dismissal, Nicholas Pooran and David Miller looked in good touch as they continued to score at will.
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Needing 30 off the last two overs, it was advantage KXIP as Pooran and Miller looked in prime form and they were up against Navdeep Saini. However, Saini was off to a perfect start as he dismissed Miller on the very first ball. Miller slashed at the ball hard and AB De Villiers pulled off a blinder at long on to keep RCB in the encounter.
0, 1, 1, 1 - The next four deliveries produced just three runs as Saini kept the batsman quiet with his line and length. Pooran did try to go for big shots but was unable to connect with the ball as Saini kept changing his pace.
{{/usCountry}}0, 1, 1, 1 - The next four deliveries produced just three runs as Saini kept the batsman quiet with his line and length. Pooran did try to go for big shots but was unable to connect with the ball as Saini kept changing his pace.
{{/usCountry}}The last ball was a short pitched one and Pooran could not help himself from attacking it. He mistimed the shot completely and although the ball went miles into the air, it was De Villiers once again who completed the catch.
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Defending 27 runs off the final over, Umesh Yadav (3/36) was better than the other night against Chennai Super Kings as he got a couple of wickets. As a result, RCB cruised to their fourth win in the last five games.
AB de Villiers’ unbeaten 82 off 44 balls took RCB to a healthy 202 for 4 and things could have gone awry with young Nicholas Pooran (46 off 28 balls) hitting five sixes at the rear before Saini sealed it in the 19th over. Kings XI Punjab finished at 185 for 7 as RCB are now on eight points with three games left.
(With agency inputs)