Royal Challengers Bangalore became the third team to qualify for the Playoffs of IPL 2021 with a tight win against Punjab Kings. The defeat as good as put Punjab out of the tournament.
Bangalore played with an unchanged team whereas Punjab Kings made three changes. Batting first, Bangalore had a good start as Virat Kohli and Devdutt Padikkal added 68 before Kohli fell in the 10th over. Before that, in the eighth over, Padikkal missed a reverse sweep attempt off Ravi Bishnoi, and K.L. Rahul reviewed for caught behind. Replays showed a spike when the ball passed the gloves, but the TV umpire did not consider the evidence sufficient.
Moises Henriques broke the stand, bowling Kohli for 25. Bangalore sent Dan Christian next, but the experiment failed as he was caught by Sarfaraz Khan first ball. Padikkal got 40, and added to the list of young Indian batters having a fabulous weekend. But even he was also dismissed in the 12th over.
Glenn Maxwell and A.B. de Villiers took control from this stage and doubled the total in next 6.4 overs. Maxwell scored a 33-ball 57, while de Villiers was run out for 23 from 18 balls. RCB lost three wickets in the 20th over, bowled by Mohammed Shami, and finished on 164/7. Henriques finished with 4-0-12-3.
Punjab had their usual great start before the middle order faltered. Rahul and Mayank Agarwal posted 81 in first 10 overs, but Shahbaz Ahmed broke through, dismissing Rahul for 39. Nicolas Pooran failed again, as Yuzvendra Chahal got rid of him for 3. Chahal continued his good form and provided two more key blows, of Agarwal (57) and Sarfaraz (first ball) to finish with 3-29. Punjab needed 44 in the last four overs.
George Garton returned to take Aiden Markram (20 in 14). The onus fell on Shahrukh Khan and Henriques to score 37 in last three overs, but Harshal Patel and Mohammed Siraj bowled two tight overs and did not provide them many opportunities to hit out.
Punjab needed 19 in the last over, but Harshal's sprint beat Shahrukh's, and the latter was run out. Bangalore won by six wickets.
If they win both matches, Bangalore can still make it to the top two, while Punjab will have to beat table toppers Chennai Super Kings as well as hope for other results to go in their favour.
Brief scores: Royal Challengers Bangalore 164/7 in 20 overs (Maxwell 57; Henriques 3-12) beat Punjab Kings 158/6 in 20 overs (Agarwal 57; Chahal 3-29) by 6 runs. Player of the Match: Glenn Maxwell.