Kings XI Punjab pip RCB in a last-ball thriller at Sharjah

With 3 overs to go, the result of the game looked like a formality. But, the RCB bowlers did not let their shoulders drop, fought till the end, and pushed the Kings XI Punjab to the brink. Unfortunately, the efforts of Punjab’s top 3 were enough on the night to push them past the finish line.

Having won the toss and elected to bat, Devdutt Padikkal and Aaron Finch got the team off to a quick start. A slower delivery accounted for Padikkal, and Aaron Finch was done in by a beauty by M Ashwin. RCB were still in a strong position with Captain Kohli still going strong, and RCB’s run rate still above 9-an-over. However, the pitch slowed down during the middle overs, and the Punjab spinners tightened the screws. In retrospect, RCB will probably feel the 46 balls between Finch’s dismissal and the end of the 14th over which went at less than a run-a-ball would have hurt.

The strategic time out appeared to have flipped a switch, and Shivam Dube came out all guns blazing, muscling Ravi Bishnoi for consecutive sixes. The 18th over bowled by Shami was probably the game-changer, AB unable to replicate his magic from a couple of days ago, and the well-set Virat Kohli, both dismissed in a single over. With both the superstars back in the hut, RCB needed a hero in the final two overs. It was Chris Morris who put his hands up. An 8-ball 25 cameo from the all-rounder who is proving to be invaluable for the team propelled the team to 171, a total which looked unlikely the way the pitch had slowed down.

RCB’s defense of the total began well, Chris Morris and Navdeep Saini both bowling 5 dots each in their first overs. However, having got their eye in, the Punjab openers KL Rahul and Mayank Agarwal turned it on. It was Yuzvendra Chahal again who got the crucial breakthrough for RCB, knocking over Mayank Agarwal to keep RCB’s hopes alive. But, Chris Gayle returned to haunt RCB with a well-paced 53 off 45. Despite his run rate being not of the Gayle standards, his well-timed assaults alleviated pressure off KL Rahul who went about his job diligently.

With 3 overs to go, the game seemed all but over. Punjab had 2 set batsmen at the crease and needed just 11 to win. First, it was Chris Morris who finished his spell the way he started it - with 5 dot balls, giving away only 3 runs in the process. Isuru Udana followed it up with another tight over to drag the game to the last over with just 5 runs coming off the penultimate.

However, 2 runs off the last over should be a cakewalk. Yuzvendra Chahal thought otherwise. Two dots to start off the over would have created a few jitters in the Punjab camp. A single followed by a dot pushed the game to the last 2 balls of the innings. Panic had now evidently set in. The two batsmen setting off for a non-existent single saw the back of Chris Gayle. From 11 needed off 3 overs, the game had been reduced to the last ball. Nicholas Pooran danced down the track and managed to clear the fielder at long-on, only just, but that was enough to take Punjab home. The game was a perfect demonstration of why cricket is a game of extremely small margins.