It was a solid batting display by both the teams as Punjab Kings (PBKS) beat Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) by five wickets in their first match of the season. Chasing 206, the team kicked-off on a good note with Mayank Agarwal and Shikhar Dhawan adding 71 runs in just 7.1 overs.
Wanindu Hasaranga then broke the stand, dismissing Mayank on 32(24) balls in his first ball of the season. Dhawan and Bhanuka Rajapaksa continued Punjab’s fight and added 47 runs for the second wicket before Harshal Patel provided RCB with their second breakthrough, removing the Indian on 43(29). Rajapaksa also scored the same number of runs in 22 balls before getting out to Mohammed Siraj, who then went to dismiss India’s U-19 star Raj Angad Bawa in the following delivery. Liam Livingstone was the final batter to depart as a late cameo by Odean Smith helped PBKS close the match with an over to spare. Earlier in the evening, Faf du Plessis scored 88 off 57 as Royal Challengers finish on 205/2 after being invited to bat first. The RCB skipper found great support from Virat Kohli as the pair added 118 runs for the second wicket. Kohli retuned unbeaten on 41 off 29 balls.
