RCB vs PBKS: Glenn Maxwell, Yuzvednra Chahal star in Bangalore’s 6-run win over Punjab, cement playoff berth

Glenn Maxwell’s (57 off 33b; 3×4, 4×6) six-hitting prowess and Yuzvendra Chahal’s (3/29) impressive display helped Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) to beat Punjab Kings by 6 runs in their Indian Premier League (IPL) game against Punjab Kings in Sharjah on Sunday.

With this win, RCB joined Chennai Super Kings and Delhi Capitals in the playoffs. For the fourth place, it will be a four-way battle between Punjab Kings, Kolkata Knight Riders, Mumbai Indians and Rajasthan Royals.For the second consecutive season, Virat Kohli-led RCB has qualified for the playoffs.Opting to bat, RCB suffered a middle order collapse after openers Devdutt Padikkal (40; 38 balls, 4×4; 2×6) and Virat Kohli (25; 24 balls, 2×4; 1×6) added 68 runs for the first wicket.But Maxwell, who is in the midst of one of his best IPL seasons, hit four sixes and three fours, to complete 50 off 29 balls.He and AB De Villiers (23 off 18 balls; 1×4; 2×6) put on a 73 run partnership for the fourth wicket and brought their side back on track.Kohli started with a four, while Padikkal hammered Arshdeep Singh, who had had a rare off day in the office, for a back-to-back six, over deep mid-wicket and a boundary, an elegant cut, in the third over, in which RCB fetched 13 runs.Padikkal then launched into leggie Ravi Bishnoi (0/35 in 4 overs), striking two boundaries, in similar fashion, over his head.Kohli, who got a reprieve in the fifth over as young Sarfaraz Khan, dropped a tough chance at short-mid wicket, then was in his element. The duo tore into the Punjab Kings attack, as they raced to 55/0 after Powerplay.In the eight over, Padikkal was given not out, despite a wiggle, which was seen off his glove, by the third umpire, off Bishnoi.But Punjab pegged back RCB by picking three quick wickets, all by Moises Henriques (3/12 in 4 overs). He first cleaned up Kohli and off the next ball forced Dan Christian to give a regulation catch to Sarfaraz Khan. Henriques then dismissed Padikkal, who nicked one to Rahul, as RCB was tottering at 73/3.Maxwell then took charge and ensured the highest total by any team at Sharjah during this season.Punjab Kings openers KL Rahul (39 off 35b; 1×4, 2×6) and Mayank Agarwal (57 off 42b; 6×4, 2×6) added 91 runs for the first wicket to give to give their team a flying start.But like the previous matches in their season, Punjab Kings exploded once KL Rahul was out. They lost their plot in the middle order and fell agnoisly short by six runs.Kl and Mayank started on a cautious note but upped the ante as the innings progressed. Mayank was the aggressor, while KL Rahul played perfect foil for his deputy.Mayank used his bottom hand to perfection with his inside strokes against the leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal. KL Rahul also hit a couple of maximums to Shahbaz Ahmed, but the left-arm spinner had the last laugh as he got the prized wicket of Punjab Kings skipper. Rahul danced down the track, but only succeeded in chipping it to Harshal Patel at the short third man.Nicholas Pooran’s woeful run in the IPL continues as he perished after scoring just 3 runs. Yuzvendra Chahal took the wicket of Nicholas Pooran.Chahal strikes again by getting the wicket of dangerous-looking Mayank Agarwal. Chahal followed it with a ripper to castle Sarfaraz Khan on a duck.After that, Sharukh Khan (16 off 11b; 1×4, 1×6) and Moises Henriques (12 not out off 9b; 1×6) hit some lusty blows but it was a bit too much to ask with the required rate gone past 10 on the dying Sharjah pitch.For RCB, Yuzvendra Chahal (3/29) put on another impressive show and showed the BBCI selectors that he still is India’s best leg-spinner. George Garton (1/27) and Shahbaz Ahmed (1/29) chipped in with a wicket apiece.RCB will be up against Sunrisers Hyderabad on Wednesday in Abu Dhabi, while Punjab Kings will lock horns with Chennai Super Kings on Thursday in Dubai.Also Read | IPL 2021: KKR should change captain, Shakib Al Hasan can replace Eoin Morgan – Aakash Chopra