IPL 2021: Punjab Kings defeat Royal Challengers Bangalore by 34 runs

Punjab Kings skipper KL Rahul scored a combative unbeaten 91 to set the stage for his side's comprehensive 34-run win over Royal Challengers Bangalore in Ahmedabad on Friday.

Rahul and Chris Gayle (46 off 24) shared 80 runs but Punjab's middle order collapsed as Harpreet Brar, batting at number seven, was the only other batsman to manage a double-digit score.

Rahul and Brar added 61 runs for the unbeaten eighth wicket to rescue the side after the RCB bowlers seized the initiative once Gayle was sent back in the 11th over.

Rahul hit seven fours and five sixes in his 57-ball knock, while Brar took 17 balls for his 25 that had two sixes and a four. The Punjab outfit managed to post a competitive 179 for five at the Narendra Modi



Stadium.

In reply, RCB started off poorly, losing in-form Devdutt Padikkal (7) in the PowerPlay itself. Virat Kohli (35) and Rajat Patidar (31) steadied RCB's ship before the former was dismissed by Brar in the 11th over. 

Brar finished with figures of 3/19 that included big scalps of Kohli, Glenn Maxwell (0), and AB de Villiers (3). Patidar also perished soon, leaving RCB reeling at 91/5. Wickets kept falling at regular intervals as the Bangalore outfit floundered while chasing a 180-run target.

In the end, Harshal Patel chipped in with a 13-ball 31 but RCB ended up with 145/8 on the scoreboard as Punjab Kings clinched their third victory of the season. Brar (3/19) and Ravi Bishnoi (2/17) were the top performers with the ball.