IPL 2017:RCB vs KXIP : Clinical Punjab thrash Bangalore by 19 runs in a low-scoring game

Bengaluru, May 5: Kings XI Punjab (KXIP) crushed Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) by 19 runs as RCB faltered once again in the run chase in the league match of Indian Premier League (IPL) 2017 here on Friday (May 5).

Chasing a target of 139 runs, RCB were bundled out for 119 by Punjab bowlers in 19 overs and lost fifth match on the trot.

Earlier, Axar Patel (38 not out) and Manan Vohra (25) were the major contributors to Punjab's cause as they reached 138/7 in set 20 overs.

Punjab got off to a poor start as openers Hashim Amla (1) and Martin Guptill (9) were sent back to the pavilion inside five overs.

Amla was dismissed by medium pacer Aniket Choudhary on the penultimate ball of the first over and Guptill was dismissed by Sreenath Aravind in the fourth over.

With 18/2 in 3.3 overs, Marsh and Vohra tried to stabilise the innings and they were almost successful but after adding 21 runs in 3.3 overs the latter was sent packing by spinner



Pawan Negi. In his 17-ball knock Marsh slammed three boundaries.

Vohra, who seemed good at the middle was also dismissed by Yuzvendra Chahal in the 12th over. Vohra's 28-ball knock was laced with one boundary and one six.

Skipper Glen Maxwell (6) also failed to rise to the occasion as he was also dismissed by Chahal in the very next over.

Middle-order batsmen Wriddhiman Shah (21)and Axar Patel then forged a 34-run partnership to help the visitors to get past the 100-run mark.

But soon, Shah, who played 25 balls and slammed one boundary, was bowled by Shane Watson in the 18th over.

In the very next over, new batsman Mohit Sharma (6) was also dismissed with the scoreboard reading 119/7.

The last over saw some boundaries from Patel but that was not enough for Punjab to post a challenging total.

For Bangalore, Choudhary and Chahal scalped two wickets each while Aravind Watson and Negi chipped in with one wicket each.