Chandigarh, Apr 20 (UNI) Punjab Kings stuttered and surged in equal measure to post 157 for 6 against Royal Challengers Bengaluru in their IPL 2025 clash at Yadavindra Singh International Stadium
on Sunday.
A sparkling cameo by Josh Inglis and a late assault from Marco Jansen helped offset the regular strikes by Krunal Pandya and Suyash Sharma, who tightened the screws in the middle overs.
After being sent in to bat, PBKS began briskly. Priyansh Arya (22 off 15) and Prabhsimran Singh (33 off 17) launched a fluent opening stand with boundaries flowing freely – Arya showcased power and placement with a lofted six over midwicket off Yash Dayal and an elegant cover drive for four.
Prabhsimran, meanwhile, was all touch and timing, threading multiple boundaries including a premeditated scoop off Josh Hazlewood and a classy back-foot punch off Bhuvneshwar Kumar.
The fireworks were checked in the 5th and 6th overs, as Krunal dealt double blows — first removing Arya (caught by Tim David at mid-off) and then scalping Prabhsimran with a flat delivery that was miscued to long-on.
Shreyas Iyer never settled, scratching his way to 6 before a top catch from Krunal at long-on handed Romario Shepherd his first wicket. The innings was rocked further when Nehal Wadhera was run out in a horrible mix-up with Josh Inglis, both batsmen stranded at the non-striker's end as David fired in the return.
Inglis (29 off 17) tried to revive the innings, playing a string of audacious scoops and reverse shots. He reverse-scooped Shepherd over short third, then danced down to Krunal to loft one over long-on. But his counterattack ended when Suyash Sharma breached his defence with a quick leg-break — one ball after he had bowled Marcus Stoinis with a googly that slipped through the gate.
With Punjab at 114/6 in the 14th over, survival became the immediate priority. Shashank Singh (31* off 33) held fort, playing a patient hand, while Marco Jansen bided his time before launching an exhilarating finish. In the 15th over, Jansen announced himself by stepping down to Suyash and clattering a googly for six straight back.
The final flourish came in the 20th over. Hazlewood, who had leaked boundaries earlier, was dispatched over long-on by Jansen with a powerful tonk of a low full-toss. It was the big man’s second six and it took PBKS to a respectable total. Jansen ended unbeaten on 25 off 20, injecting some much-needed late momentum.
For RCB, Krunal (4-0-25-2) and Suyash (4-0-26-2) were the standouts. Hazlewood (4-0-39-0) struggled with his lengths, while Bhuvneshwar (4-0-26-0) remained economical and unlucky — a dropped chance off Shashank in the penultimate over denying him a deserved wicket.
RCB will now chase 158 to seal what would be a crucial victory in their playoff push. UNI BDN SSP