(Image Credit and Copyright: BCCI, IPL)
Punjab Kings beat KKR in Rain-Affected IPL Showdown
Rain Disrupts KKR’s Chase, Leading to DLS Victory for Punjab Kings
In a rain-affected Indian Premier League clash in Mohali on Saturday, Punjab Kings secured a seven-run win against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) through the Duckworth-Lewis method. KKR’s pursuit of the 192-run target was halted at 146 for 7 after 16 overs due to heavy rain. The DLS par score at that moment was 153.
Critical Wickets Shift the Game
If KKR hadn’t lost Andre Russell and Venkatesh Iyer to Sam Curran and Arshdeep Singh respectively, the par score would have been lower before the rain began. The 15th and 16th over wickets proved decisive, as KKR required 46 runs from 24 balls at that stage, with Shardul Thakur and Sunil Narine at the crease.
Turning Point as Russell and Iyer Dismissed
When Curran dismissed the in-form Russell and Arshdeep removed ‘Impact Substitute’ Iyer, KKR needed 62 runs from 32 balls. Russell was caught at deep mid-wicket, while Iyer was caught at point. Russell had rekindled KKR’s hopes with three fours and two sixes, while Iyer made a significant impact with his 34 runs off 28 balls.
KKR’s Recovery After Early Losses
KKR initially struggled, losing three wickets for just 29 runs within the first five overs. However, a 46-run partnership between Iyer and captain Nitish Rana brought them back into contention, followed by a 50-run stand between Iyer and Russell that set the stage for a potential successful chase. Despite their efforts, KKR lacked sufficient firepower on the day. Arshdeep’s impressive 3/19 in 3 overs proved to be a game-changer for Punjab Kings.
Rajapaksa’s Half-Century Propels Punjab Kings to 191
In the first innings, Bhanuka Rajapaksa’s quick 50 guided Punjab Kings to a challenging 191 for 5 against KKR. He formed an 86-run partnership with captain Shikhar Dhawan, with Sam Curran contributing an unbeaten 26 towards the end of the innings.
KKR Bowlers Struggle Against Aggressive Punjab Kings
Punjab Kings dominated the first half of the innings with aggressive batting, looking set to surpass 200 runs. However, KKR managed to regain control by taking regular wickets after the solid 86-run partnership between Rajapaksa and Dhawan. Sri Lankan left-hander Rajapaksa capitalized on the KKR bowlers’ mistakes, scoring the season’s first half-century for Punjab Kings.
Rajapaksa and Dhawan’s Partnership Sets the Stage
Rajapaksa and Dhawan meticulously scored nearly 10 runs per over, amassing 86 runs from just 55 balls for the second wicket. Rajapaksa toyed with KKR’s bowling, finding gaps and clearing boundaries with ease, scoring 50 from 32 balls with five fours and two sixes.
Floodlights Delay Second Innings Start: The second innings was delayed by approximately 30 minutes due to malfunctioning floodlights at the PCA Stadium.
Finally, Punjab Kings beat KKR.
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