• Home
  • Match Hub
  • Ipl 2023 Pbks Vs Kkr Rajapaksas Fifty Arshdeeps Three Fer Script A Close Win For Punjab Kings

IPL 2023, PBKS vs KKR: Rajapaksa's Fifty & Arshdeep's three-fer Script a Close Win For Punjab Kings

image-lfy11js7Punjab Kings sealed a narrow win versus KKR [Source: Twitter]

The second match of the ongoing Indian Premier League saw Punjab Kings edge past Kolkata Knight Riders by seven runs (DLS) in a thrilling face-off in Mohali. The Kings opened their account in the points table with this narrow win. 


Batters' collective brilliance propels Punjab to a sizeable total

image-lfxxivxlBhanuka Rajapaksa slammed a scintillating fifty [Source: Twitter]

After being put into bat, Punjab Kings were off to a flier, as Prabhsimran Singh unleashed himself to garner quick-fire 23 runs off 12 balls before being dismissed by Tim Southee. After his departure, skipper Shikhar Dhawan and Lankan sensation Bhanuka Rajapaksa steadied the ship for the hosts, stitching a magnificent 86-run stand for the second wicket. 

While Dhawan compiled 40 runs, Rajapaksa took on the KKR bowlers, hammering five fours and two sixes for his explosive 32-ball 50. After he got out, Jitesh Sharma, Sikandar Raza and Sam Curran contributed crucial runs, leading PBKS to a formidable 191-run total in 20 overs. 

For KKR, Umesh Yadav and Varun Chakravarthy were economical, while Tim Southee, despite picking two wickets, went for 54 runs in his four-over spell. 


Arshdeep's three-fer derails KKR before rain plays spoilsport

image-lfy0ykub

Arshdeep Singh starred with the ball for PBKS [Source: Twitter]

In response, Kolkata Knight Riders had a disastrous start to their innings, losing their top three for 29 runs inside the first five overs. 

Although skipper Nitish Rana added 46 runs with the impact player Venkatesh Iyer, Sikandar Raza dismissed him in the tenth over to push KKR on the back foot. Rinku Singh also departed cheaply, leaving the visitors in disarray at 80 for five in 10.1 overs. 

Andre Russell came out with all guns blazing and wreaked havoc in the Kings' camp through his power-hitting. However, Sam Curran removed him in the 15th over to hit the final nail in KKR's coffin. 

Shardul Thakur and Sunil Narine hit one six each, but in the end, KKR were found seven runs short of their target when rain played spoilsport after the 16th over. 


Why KKR lost the match? 

  • Top-order failure: While Punjab's top three contributed 113 runs, their KKR counterparts failed miserably, managing only 28 runs. Thus, they could lay the foundation their team needed to chase the mammoth total of 192 runs. 
  • Poor performance from Southee, Thakur and Narine: Although Umesh Yadav and Varun Chakravarthy were economical, the experienced trio of Shardul Thakur, Tim Southee and Sunil Narine leaked runs at a abysmal economy rate, letting their team down in this clash. 
  • Over-reliance on Andre Russell for acceleration: Even after so many years, Andre Russell remains the lone warrior for KKR in the slog overs. The batter entered when the asking rate had already breached the 11-run mark. So, KKR can only blame their top six, who made it incredibly tough for them to chase the total. 


Brief Scores

Punjab Kings: 191/5 (20)
Bhanuka Rajapaksa 50 (32), Shikhar Dhawan 40 (29);
Tim Southee 2/54 (4), Varun Chakravarthy 1/26 (4)

Kolkata Knight Riders: 146/7 (16)
Andre Russell 35 (19), Venkatesh Iyer 34 (28);
Arshdeep Singh 3/19 (3), Rahul Chahar 1/12 (2)

Punjab Kings won by seven runs (DLS).