Punjab Kings’ bowlers prolonged RCB’s dreadful run at house in IPL 2025.
In a rain-curtailed game, Punjab Kings held their nerve to clinch a 5-wicket win over the Royal Challengers Bengaluru at the Chinnaswamy Stadium on Friday. Fresh from making history, the PBKS attack restricted RCB to just 95/9 in their 14 overs. In response, a breezy cameo from impact sub Nehal Wadhera got the visitors over the line.
The Bengaluru weather threatened to wash out the game. The toss was delayed and action began after a 2-hour stoppage, with Shreyas winning and fielding first. RCB dropped Devdutt Padikkal to the bench in favour of Manoh Bhadange as the impact player. For PBKS, Marcus Stoinis and Harpreet Brar returned to the XI in place of Maxwell and Wadhera. The match was reduced to 14 overs per side.
PBKS run riot, David strikes maiden IPL fifty
Batting first, RCB had the worst possible start and never truly recovered from there. Arshdeep Singh struck in the first over dismissing Phil Salt. He followed it up by picking Virat Kohli with a short ball in his second over. 2 became 3 as Liam Livingstone’s horror IPL continued. The English all-rounder came charging down the track to counter movement, only to miscue it to Priyansh Arya.
Yuzvendra Chahal also struck in his first over to reduce RCB to 33/4 in 6 overs. Marco Jansen joined hands with Chahal as RCB soon slipped to 42/7. Tim David held one end up, taking the hosts past the dreaded 49 barrier. Harpreet Brar also joined in with the wickets of Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Yash Dayal. With the last man left, David unfurled the big shots. The Australian smashed 3 sixes off Harpreet Brar in the final over. He scored his maiden IPL fifty off just 26 balls, to take RCB to 95/9. In a sorry display for RCB, David and Patidar combined for 73 runs, with the other nine batters managing single-digit scores.
Nehal Wadhera steals the show
Prabhsimran Singh and Priyansh Arya got Punjab Kings off to a decent start, playing with cautious aggression. Bhuvneshwar struck first blood for the hosts, with Singh departing for 13. Josh Hazlewood then soon sent Priyansh Arya back to the pavilion to peg PBKS at 32/2.
Shreyas Iyer and Josh Inglis consolidated a bit to take them past 50. However, Hazlewood brought the hosts back into the contest with a double wicket over. Nehal Wadhera took back control smashing Suyash Sharma for a six and four in two consecutive overs. The left-hander remained unbeaten on 33 off just 19 deliveries, as PBKS clinched a 5-wicket win with 11 balls to spare.
The result meant that RCB still awaits their first win at home in IPL 2025. In their three games at the Chinnaswamy Stadium, Rajat Patidar and Co have been outplayed by opposition teams.
