Cricket: IPL 2021 Match-26 - PBKS VS RCB

[banglabhai420]

In three previous IPL matches, stretched across as many seasons, Harpreet Brar had failed to take a wicket with his left-arm spin, while being dispatched at close to ten an over. All that was forgotten in the space of seven incredible deliveries, as Brar extracted three of the most prized scalps in the tournament without conceding a single run, to set the Punjab Kings up for a precious and timely victory over the Royal Challengers Bangalore in Ahmedabad.

Brar's dismissals of Virat Kohli, Glenn Maxwell and AB de Villiers ensured that the closing overs of the Kings' defence of 180 were a formality, as the Royal Challengers could manage only 145 for 8 and lost by 34 runs - their second defeat in three matches, meaning they squandered the chance to leapfrog the Chennai Super Kings at the top of the standings. Instead, it was the Kings who drew level with defending champions Mumbai Indians on six points, to keep themselves in touch with a playoff place.

As if Brar's contribution with the ball was not enough, he also pocketed a catch in the deep to give his fellow spinner Ravi Bishnoi the first of his two richly deserved scalps and - more importantly - provided his captain, KL Rahul, with some priceless death-overs support with the bat.

A familiar middle-order malfunction had threatened once again to derail the Kings' hopes of a competitive total. Instead, Brar stood firm with 25 off 17 in an unbeaten 61-run stand for the sixth wicket, as Rahul romped to 91 not out from 57 balls - a performance that his opponents scarcely matched between them.

[banglabhai420]

Score and Match info:
RCB won the toss and chose to field.

PBKS 179-5 (20 overs)
RCB 145-8 (16.3 overs)

Result: PBKS won by 34 runs
Man of the Match: Harpreet Brar