Low score, high drama. In such a scenario on Tuesday, Punjab Kings defended a modest total of just 111 runs, defeating defending champions Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in a dramatic fashion by 16 runs.
The match was filled with tension and twists. Kolkata lost both openers within just two runs. However, Impact Player Angkrish Raghuvanshi revived their hopes with a quickfire 37 runs, giving KKR a confident comeback. Yet, Punjab’s bowlers held their nerve.
Yuzvendra Chahal, in particular, starred by taking 4 crucial wickets, reigniting Punjab’s hope. In the final overs, pacers Arshdeep Singh and Marco Jansen struck twice in the last two overs, sealing a memorable win for Punjab. When Marco Jansen outwitted Andre Russell with a length delivery, Punjab Kings co-owner and Bollywood actress Preity Zinta was seen celebrating with joy.
The Mullanpur Stadium echoed with celebrations as the Punjab players sang their victory anthem. This became one of the lowest totals ever successfully defended in IPL history. It was Punjab’s 4th win out of 6 matches, and a thrilling one at that. Surprisingly, KKR collapsed from a comfortable position, losing 8 wickets for just 33 runs, marking their third loss out of 7 matches.
Earlier, Punjab won the toss and opted to bat – a decision that backfired. The plan to post a big score and put pressure on the opponent, as hoped by KKR captain Shreyas Iyer, turned against them. Despite targeted bowling by KKR, Punjab was bowled out for 111 in 18.3 overs – their lowest team total this season.
Harshit Rana, in one over, dismissed Priyansh Arya (22), Shreyas Iyer (0), and the dangerous Prabhsimran Singh (30) during the powerplay, pushing Punjab into deep trouble. They never recovered from losing 4 wickets in the first 6 overs.
Wicketkeeper Jos Inglis (2) and experienced all-rounder Glenn Maxwell (7) threw away their wickets with reckless shots. Varun Chakravarthy (2/21) and Sunil Narine (2/14) spun a web around Punjab, from which escape seemed impossible.
