Royal Challengers Bangalore and Punjab Kings locked horns against each other in the 26th match of the ongoing edition of the Indian Premier League 2021. Both teams have a different campaign so far in the league as RCB is well placed in the top half of the points table while PKBS were placed sixth going into this match.
Virat Kohli won the toss and asked PKBS to bat first. KL Rahul and Chris Gayle were on song during the powerplay as the latter smashed Kyle Jamieson for five fours in the last over of the powerplay. PKBS raced to 49/1 after six overs. Gayle got out after scoring fluent 46 runs but Rahul looked determined to take his team to a defendable total.
Also Read: Chris Gayle smashes Kyle Jamieson for five fours in an over
Rahul succeeded in his mission as his unbeaten 91 runs took his team’s total to 179/5 in 20 overs. He found a good ally his Harpreet Brar, who played a helpful cameo of 25 runs in the death overs.
Everyone expected RCB to go big against this target. Kohli showed his intent straightaway by scoring boundaries. His partner Devdutt Padikkal kicked off well by hitting a beautiful six over square boundary against Riley Meredith. However, the pacer took his revenge by smashing his stumps on the very next ball. Meredith’s 145 KMPH thunderbolt uprooted Padikkal’s off pole and ended his innings for seven runs.
See how Twitter reacted after this battle;
https://twitter.com/ribas30704098/status/1388167688720060417?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1388167688720060417%7Ctwgr%5E%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.the12thman.in%2Fipl-2021-riley-meredith-takes-padikkal-wicket-with-a-ripper%2F
Pace is pace. Riley Meredith sent Devdutt Padikkal's stump for a walk. What a picture! pic.twitter.com/Ffg4o1t864
— The Field (@thefield_in) April 30, 2021
That too a classic batter like padikkal , he's no baz mcullum
— Poojith (@Poojith16_09) April 30, 2021
Meredith makes a mockery of off stump as he cleans up Devdutt Padikkal for 7 runs. RCB one down for 19 runs.
Live your passion for cricket with us and daily 5 people will stand a chance to win exciting prizes!#iplwithanissajan #cricketunplugged #ipl2021 #rcbvpbks #pbksvrcb pic.twitter.com/mFl5BdUwHz
— Anis Sajan (@mrcricketuae) April 30, 2021
Kohli expression say it all,
Padikkal ur are not McCullum to play that against fast bowler,
just a bad shot selection— . (@johnsnow7654) April 30, 2021
https://twitter.com/rishu23may/status/1388166351492042762?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1388166351492042762%7Ctwgr%5E%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.the12thman.in%2Fipl-2021-riley-meredith-takes-padikkal-wicket-with-a-ripper%2F
Kohli looked set to chase the target before Harpreet Brar started his third over, 11th of the innings. Brar dismissed Kohli and Glenn Maxwell on successive balls. He capped off his spell by adding AB de Villiers’ wicket in his kitty as well. Brar’s spell reads 4-1-19-3.
Also Read: Harpreet Brar shakes RCB by dismissing their trio
RCB lost this game by 34 runs and remained at the third position on the points table. They will face Kolkata Knight Riders in the next game on Monday.
