PBKS vs RCB

That is just one half of the action for the day, the second match has already begun in Delhi with RR batting first against DC. You can hop tabs to enjoy more live action, from here this is Sourabh Agrawal signing off on behalf of Pradeep and the entire team. Cheers!

Venkatesh Iyer is the Player of the Match for his unbeaten 73 off 40 balls, here is what he said: Technically it is my second game. I have been part of the playing 11 and today was the first time that I properly got to bat. That is the most pleasing thing rather than the player of the match. They (the management) has welcomed me really well. It is a very professional setup, credit to Mo (Bobat), Andy and DK. The brand of cricket that RCB plays, it excites me. Having spent so much time at at KKR, there is an emotional side as well but I feel at home here. I'd lie if I say that I was not frustrated, I have always wanted to play but I have been here long enough to understand that it is a championship winning side and you don't want to tinker with the combination. But I always made an impact on the coaching staff and happy to get my chance today and to contribute. I was a bit scratchy to start off, lucky to have Virat Kohli at the other end. All the legends of the game, one common thing is they know how to communicate. I was playing after a long time and needed a few balls to get into the groove. 

Jitesh Sharma (RCB captain): (did it get tricky at any stage?) No, I think we were all in control, in the batting and in bowling as well. We were not under pressure, frankly speaking. We knew what we needed to do on this wicket, having batted on that. The batters gave us a really good score, we had specific plans for specific batters and executed those. (on captaining the side) It is a part of my job, the management has given me the responsibility. (on Bhuvi and Hazlewood) it is our previlage that both of them are playing for us. (Patidar's return) He will be captain in the next match. We are taking it one match at a time

Bhuvneshwar Kumar [Royal Challengers Bengaluru]: [On his rhythm and bowling performance]“I felt I was in a really good rhythm tonight. Picking up wickets consistently in recent games definitely boosts confidence, but this is also one of those venues where the new ball can do quite a bit. If you make the most of those conditions early on, it becomes very difficult for the opposition to either build a big score or chase one down.”[On executing yorkers under pressure]“It’s not something you suddenly start practicing during the tournament. The execution comes from the work you put in throughout the entire year. But bowling to world-class batters in an IPL environment and successfully nailing those deliveries gives you a lot of confidence.”[On bowling alongside Josh Hazlewood]“It makes a huge difference. Josh brings incredible experience and skill to the attack, and I think our bowling styles complement each other really well. Credit also has to go to Rasikh, who may not get as much attention, but the way he has bowled under pressure in the powerplay has been outstanding.”[On RCB qualifying for the playoffs]“It feels fantastic because qualifying for the playoffs is always the first major goal in a tournament like this. You can see the emotions because everyone has worked extremely hard over the last couple of months. It’s a special feeling, but at the same time, we’re already looking forward to the challenges ahead.”

Shreyas Iyer [Punjab Kings captain]: [On where the game slipped away for Punjab Kings]“RCB got off to a terrific start and continued putting pressure on the bowlers even after the powerplay. Once they reached 222, it became a very strong total on this surface. We weren’t able to pick up enough wickets during the chase, and I think the game really slipped away from us during the powerplay itself.”[On the difficult chase after early wickets]“Chasing a score like that was always going to require something special, and losing three wickets inside the powerplay made it even tougher. Our main run-scorers, especially Prabhsimran and Priyansh, have consistently given us explosive starts this season, but we couldn’t get that momentum today. Personally as well, I’m disappointed to have fallen early.”[On the positives from the batting effort]“There were still some positives with the way Shashank Singh, Marcus Stoinis, and a few others fought back in the middle overs. At one stage, we were still going close to ten an over, but in the end, we fell short against a very strong bowling attack led by Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Josh Hazlewood.”[On staying positive heading into the final league game]“I’ve always believed in staying positive regardless of the result. One game doesn’t define your mindset or personality. I don’t spend too much time dwelling on the past — this match is done now. Tomorrow is a new day, and there’s always light at the end of the tunnel.”

7:20 PM local time and IST: MATCH SUMMARY

Royal Challengers Bengaluru (222/4 in 20 overs) beat Punjab Kings (199/8 in 20 overs) by 23 runs

Venkatesh Iyer 73*(40) | Rasikh Dar Salam 3/36(4)
Shashank Singh 56(27) | Harpreet Brar 2/35(4)

The defending champions RCB are the first team to officialy qualify for the playoffs, they get up to 18 points in 13 games and book their spot in the last-4 and in doing so also hand PBKS a sixth loss on the trot leaving them in a pickle

In the end, you have got to say that the better team has come out with the two points on the day. PBKS did put up a fight, specially Shashank's blazing fifty with support from Stoinis but the damage had been done very early on with the ball from Bhuvi and Rasikh Dar in the powerplay reducing PBKS to 19/3 inside the 4th over with all three of Prabh, Priyansh and Shreyas contributing a total of 3 runs

Connolly and Shedge did contribute with 30s too, they needed to make it bigger though. Credits to that partnership between Shashank and Stoinis, who gave PBKS hope by adding 67 runs off just 32 balls but in the end there were far too many runs in RCB's kitty. Some excellent death bowling from the likes of Hazlewood, young Rasikh and Bhuvi closed it off clinically at the end for the defending champs

19.6 Rasikh Dar Salam to Azmatullah Omarzai, OUT! HOLES OUT AT LONG-ON! THAT'S IT! RCB qualify into the playoffs, and hand PBKS sixth defeat in a row! Slower one, back of a length on the off-stump. Azmat smashes it straight down the throat of long-off and RCB seal their spot in the playoffs with that.

19.4 Rasikh Dar Salam to Harpreet Brar, EDGED AND FOUR! PBKS going through the motion here. Full outside the off-stump, Brar swings at it, takes the outside edge and races down to third-man for a boundary.

19.3 Rasikh Dar Salam to Harpreet Brar, OH! Sharp bumper from Rasikh, terrific over so far from him. Well directed, Brar swivels to pull and misses.