Virat Kohli and Rajat Patidar shine as RCB defeats Punjab Kings by 60 runs
The Hindu
Virat Kohli and Rajat Patidar shine as RCB defeats Punjab Kings by 60 runs in IPL thriller.
Virat Kohli and Rajat Patidar conjured up superlative fifties before the bowlers joined the party as Royal Challengers Bengaluru kept their slim playoff hopes alive with a huge 60-run win over Punjab Kings in the IPL on May 9.
Kohli's 47-ball 92 was the cornerstone of RCB's innings as he starred in two partnerships — 72 off 32 balls with Patidar (55 off 23 balls) and 92 off 46 balls with Cameron Green (46 off 27 balls) to propel the team to 241/7.
In reply, Rilee Rossouw put up a show with a 27-ball 61-run knock but Karn Sharma's twin strike triggered a collapse as PBKS were all out for 181 in 17 overs.
This was a fourth successive win for RCB and it took them to 10 points, while PBKS (8) were knocked out of the playoff race as they can reach a maximum of 12 points from the remaining two games.
Swapnil Singh (2/28), Karn (2/36) and Lockie Ferguson (2/29) took two each, while Mohammed Siraj (3/43) claimed three wickets for RCB.
Chasing a stiff target, PBKS lost Prabhsimran Singh (6) early but Rossouw looked unstoppable as left-arm spinner Swapnil Singh was carted for two fours before Siraj was belted for three fours and a six.
Yash Dayal and Ferguson were then hit for 16 and 14 runs by Jonny Bairstow (27) and Rossouw as PBKS scored 75 runs in six overs.