A splendid bowling performance from the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) bowlers saw Punjab Kings getting bowled out for just 101 runs in the first qualifier in Mullanpur on Thursday, May 29.
Josh Hazlewood and Suyash Sharma picked up three wickets each while Yash Dayal picked up two. Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Romario Shepherd picked up a wicket each as PBKS were finally bowled out for 101.
RCB won the toss and opted to bowl first. Punjab Kings lost wickets at regular intervals. The openers were dismissed early which rocked the PBKS batting lineup. Priyansh Arya (7 runs off 5 balls) and Prabhsimran Singh (18 runs off 10 balls) were dismissed in the second and the third over, respectively.
Suyash Sharma Turns It On For RCB
At the start of the seventh over, PBKS had lost half their side with just 50 runs on the board. After Shashank Singh's wicket in the ninth over, they were forced to bring on Musheer Khan as the Impact Sub who was dismissed for a duck. Marcus Stoinis (28 runs off 18 balls) fell in the 11th over, scoring 26 runs off 17 balls. Once he was dismissed, the RCB bowlers then picked up the final two wickets, giving away just 22 runs.
It was a splendid bowling display from the RCB bowlers in a match that mattered most. Josh Hazlewood had an immediate impact on his return as he picked up three wickets for 21 runs in less than four overs. The real deal for RCB was leg spinner Suyash Sharma, who impressed one and all with his control. He picked up three wickets giving away just 17 runs. Yash Dayal picked up the wickets of Arya and Wadhera. It was he and Bhuvneshwar Kumar who started it off for RCB with Hazlewood closing it out for the Bold Army.
RCB now need just 102 runs to make a direct entry into the final of IPL 2025. The last time they made it to an IPL final was back in 2016. If they make it, it will their first IPL final appearance in nine years in the IPL and they are primed to do so.
Also Read: PBKS vs RCB - Looking Back At Virat Kohli's Playoff Record Ahead Of Qualifier 1
Qualifier 2 Awaits PBKS?
For PBKS, if they lose this game, they will play the Qualifier 2 against the winner of the Eliminator contest between GT and MI on May 30.
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