IPL: Kohli keeps RCB alive in playoffs race; Punjab Kings knocked out
Royal Challengers Bengaluru 241 for 7 (Kohli 92, Patidar 55, Green 46, Harshal 3-38, Kaverappa 2-36) beat Punjab Kings 181 (Rossouw 61, Shashank 37, Siraj 3-43, Swapnil 2-28, Ferguson 2-29, Karn 2-36) by 60 runs
Virat Kohli’s breakneck 92 off 47, plus his spectacular direct hit to run Shashank Singh out, were the basis of Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s (RCB’s) fourth consecutive win, this time against Punjab Kings (PBKS) in Dharamsala.
The result kept RCB’s hopes of making the IPL 2024 playoffs alive, if only just, but knocked PBKS out of contention.
RCB batted first and blasted their way to 241 for 7, with Rajat Patidar crashing 55 off 23, and Cameron Green hitting 46 off 27. Both had productive partnerships with Kohli, worth 76 off 32 and 92 off 46 respectively.
In response, PBKS started strong, but RCB’s spinners – Karn Sharma and Swapnil Singh – were effective through the early middle overs, dismissing Rilee Rossouw in the ninth , Jitesh Sharma in the 11th, and Liam Livingstone in the 12th.
With the required rate now high above the run rate, it was curtains for PBKS. They ended 181 all out after 17 overs. (ESPNcricinfo)
