Bengaluru (Karnataka) [India]April 19 (Ani): Punjab Kings’ (PBKS) Seemer Marco Jansen led from the front when their bowlers executed plans to perfection, limiting the royal challengers Bengaluru (RCB) to 95/9 in a rainburt match. With the game reduced to 14 overs per side, the PBKS bowlers fully utilized the conditions. Jansen, who returned impressive figures of 2/10, was the striking artist with the ball. The high left-arm pacemaker utilized the extra bounce and pace on the surface to harass the RCB fighters. After the game, Jansen said, “Feel very good. There was a little pace and bounce, which all quick bowlers enjoy. Everyone has a role to play, and for me, whatever I have to do, I try to do it to the best of my ability.” He also praised the leadership of Captain Shreyas Iyer, adding: ‘Iyer is very clear on the field. We have good chats during training, and it makes much easier for us. ‘ The disciplined performance of the PBKS bowling unit ensured that RCB never really found momentum during their turn. The youngster Nehal Wadhera played a composed and confident knock to lead Punjab Kings to a comfortable victory over Royal Challengers Bengaluru in a rain-breeded Indian Premier League 2025 match at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru Saturday. PBKS led a target of 96 in a 14-year-old competition, reaching 98/5 in 12.1 overs and registering their fifth win of the season. Wadhera remained unbeaten at 33 out of just 19 deliveries, with three fours and three sixes. Marcus Stoinis sealed the game with a six, which gave the rounding of a clinical chase. Punjab quickly started by openers Priyansh Arya and Prabhsimran Singh. However, the duo quickly fell consecutively. Prabhsimran was the first one to be fired by Bhuvneshwar Kumar for 13. Arya followed shortly thereafter and scored 16 of 11 balls before falling to Josh Hazlewood. At that point, PBKs were 32/2 in 3.4 overs. Captain Shreyas Iyer and Josh Inglis tried to stabilize the turn, but both fell cheaply. Iyer was removed for 7 by Hazlewood, who also shortly afterwards came down the better of Inglis (14 of 17) to complete an excellent three-wickets. PBKs suddenly swam at 53/4. Shashank Singh was fired by Bhuvneshwar Kumar for 1 and left PBKS at 81/5. However, Wadhera and Stoinis stabilized the ship and ensured that there was no further hiccup. Their calm and calculated partnership saw Punjab with 11 balls over the line. For RCB, Josh Hazlewood was the striking bowler with figures of 3/14, while Bhuvneshwar Kumar cut in 2/26. Earlier, Punjab Kings captain Shreyas Iyer won the throw and chose to bowl Bengaluru against royal challengers first. The duo of Virat Kohli and Phil Salt opened the turn for RCB. Arshdeep Singh removed Phil Salt in the very first for 4. RCB captain Rajat Patidar at Virat Kohli in the middle. Secondly, Rajat Patidar crossed 1000 IPL runs and became the second fastest Indian seizure to do so. Arshdeep took early wickets when he removed Virat Kohli in third place for 1 (3), and Liam Livingstone joined Patidar. Xavier Bartlett removed Livingstone in fourth place because 4. PBKS players got good catches in the power play, and Jitesh Sharma joined the RCB captain. Veteran spinner Yuzvendra Chahal removed the wicketkeeper/consuming Jitesh Sharma for two in 7th place. RCB has lost wickets regularly. The RCB impact player, Manoj Bhandage, made no impact on the bat because he was removed by Jansen for one in ninth place. Harpreet Brar, who played his first game of this season, took back-to-back wickets in his first time. He removed Bhuvneshwar for 8 and Yash Dayal in 12th place. David was the only fighter for RCB in the bat. He hit three sixes in the final and scored an unbeaten 50 of 26 balls. Marco Jansen (2/10) was the choice of the bowlers for PBKs. Arshdeep, Chahal and Brar each took two wickets, and Xavier Bartlett grabbed a wicket. Punjab moved to second place in the table table, while RCB is in fourth place. (Ani) first published: 19 Apr 2025, 04:01 AM IST
‘Iyer is very clear on the field’: Marco Jansen Prize Captain after PBKS bowlers dissolve RCB
