It was a strange sort of game at the New Chandigarh stadium. At the halfway stage of the match, Varun Chakaravarthy reckoned it was a 180-type pitch after Punjab Kings were skittled out for just 111 thanks to a collective bowling effort from Kolkata Knight Riders. Seven overs into the chase, KKR were well on their way, having reached 60/2, needing to score at only four-an-over to get to the target, or at just over seven for a win inside 14.1 overs, which would have given them an NRR boost to climb to the top of the standings. But what happened next was a dramatic comeback from PBKS, led by Yuzvendra Chahal (4-28) and Marco Jansen (3-17), as they bowled KKR out for 95. This was the lowest total defended in the IPL, with the 16-run victory propelling PBKS to the fourth spot.
PBKS strong batting lineup collapses as 111
Priyansh Arya struck two fours off Anrich Nortje in the second over, driving over cover and pulling past mid on. Prabhsimran Singh was nearly caught at short fine leg off Vaibhav Arora, but the scoop shot gave him his first four. He followed it up with a wristy flick over midwicket for a six and a stylish off drive while Arya muscled a pull over mid on as 20 came off the third over. Harshit Rana was welcomed into the attack with a six over extra cover by Arya, but the bowler hit back by having the left-hander caught at deep square leg off a flick. This brought Shreyas Iyer, KKR’s former captain, to the crease, but he failed to make an impact, cutting straight to deep point to depart without scoring. Josh Inglis, who replaced Marcus Stoinis, fell early too as he was bowled by Varun CV attempting a sweep. Prabhsimran, though, continued undeterred, striking sixes over thirdman and long-off to take PBKS past 50. But the bowler had the last laugh as he had the opener caught at backward point, again by Ramandeep, to leave PBKS in more trouble.
Nehal Wadhera and Glenn Maxwell started building a partnership but the recovery was cut short when the former fell to Nortje in the ninth over soon after hitting two fours. Suryansh Shedge came out as the impact sub as a result of PBKS losing half their side, at the expense of a bowling option. But he was unable to make an impact, caught-behind off Sunil Narine soon after Glenn Maxwell was dismissed for the fourth time in 31 balls by Varun. Narine got another, having Marco Jansen bowled to leave PBKS at 86/8 in the 11th over. Shashank Singh and Xavier Bartlett (Lockie Ferguson’s replacement) got PBKS past the middle overs, helping them cross the 100-run mark.
Shashank and Bartlett had extended their partnership past 20 and it would have been prudent, from PBKS’ point of view that they play out the remaining overs. But that wasn’t to be as Arora trapped Shashank in front and Bartlett was run out soon after, with PBKS finishing their innings in the 16th over and ending up with their lowest total at home.
Yuzi Chahal's spin web entangles KKR for 95
After finishing with a paltry total, Punjab Kings needed early wickets to stay in the game, and they did just that. Narine got going with a boundary off Jansen in the first over of the chase but he fell in the same over, missing a pull to be bowled. Quinton de Kock also fell cheaply, mistiming a flick off Bartlett to be caught at deep backward square. KKR picked up pace as the powerplay wore on, as Raghuvanshi struck regular boundaries while Ajinkya Rahane played a supporting role. The KKR skipper, meanwhile, put away deliveries in his zone, including a straight six off Bartlett, who conceded 19 in the sixth over as Raghuvanshi also struck a maximum off him.
The set pair of Rahane and Raghuvanshi departed in quick succession, getting out to Yuzvendra Chahal as PBKS made another bid to get back into the game. Rahane refused to take the review after being hit on the pad attempting a sweep. Replays later revealed that the impact was outside off. Raghuvanshi tried to go inside out but got an outside edge to backward point, leaving KKR at 72/4 in the 10th over. It became 74/5 as Maxwell struck in the next over, trapping Venkatesh Iyer in front. Things took a turn for the worse for KKR as Chahal struck twice in the 12th over, getting Rinku Singh stumped and having Ramandeep caught on a scoop, while Rana was bowled by Jansen as they slipped to 79/8. Russell decided he had enough as he took on Chahal, hitting two sixes and a four in the 14th over. Arora tried to keep Arshdeep Singh at bay but after facing five dots, he fell to a short delivery from the left-armer to leave KKR at 95/9.
Russell was on strike at the start of the 16th over and KKR needed a single-handed effort from him to lead them to the finish line. Instead, Jansen stole the limelight as he had the West Indian bowled off an inside edge to complete PBKS’ incredible heist.
SCORECARD: Punjab Kings 111 in 15.3 overs (Prabhsimran Singh 30; Harshit Rana 3-25, Sunil Narine 2-14) beat Kolkata Knight Riders Angkrish Raghuvanshi 37; Yuzvendra Chahal 4-28, Marco Jansen 3-17) by 16 runs.
