Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) secured their inaugural triumph in the Indian Premier League 2024 by defeating Punjab Kings (PBKS) with a four-wicket victory in the sixth match of the ongoing season. This victory marked the host team’s success in the sixth consecutive match of the season.
The clash unfolded at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru on Monday, where RCB successfully chased down the target of 177 runs for the loss of six wickets in the 20th over. Batting first, Punjab managed to put up a total of 176 runs for the loss of six wickets within the stipulated 20 overs.
Virat Kohli, opening for Bengaluru, showcased an explosive innings, tallying 77 runs off 49 balls. His stellar performance not only marked his 51st half-century in IPL but also his 100th in T20 cricket, making him the first Indian batsman to achieve this milestone.
In addition to Kohli’s remarkable contribution, Dinesh Karthik played a crucial unbeaten knock of 28 runs from just 10 deliveries, while Mahipal Lomror added 17 runs off 8 balls to the scoreboard. Punjab’s bowling attack, led by Kagiso Rabada and Harpreeti Brar, managed to secure two wickets each.
For Punjab, captain Shikhar Dhawan led from the front with a composed 45 runs off 37 balls, supported by Jitesh Sharma’s 27 runs and Prabhsimran Singh’s 25 runs. In the final over, Shashank Singh remained unbeaten with a quickfire 21 off 8 balls.
The bowling prowess of Mohammed Siraj and Glenn Maxwell proved pivotal for RCB as they both claimed two wickets each, while Yash Dayal and Alzarri Joseph contributed with one wicket apiece, ensuring a balanced performance in restricting Punjab’s total.
RCB’s victory in this thrilling encounter sets a positive tone for their campaign in the IPL 2024 season, while Punjab Kings will look to regroup and bounce back stronger in the upcoming matches.
