Our Bureau
Chandigarh
Royal Challengers Bangalore have ended their 9-year drought and have reached the finals of the Indian Premier League for the first time since 2016. RCB gave the Punjab Kings a thrashing in the Qualifier 1 and shocked everyone, defeating them with 8 wickets and 10 overs left. Their bowling attack led by Australian pacer Josh Hazlewood completely bamboozled the Kings batting order.
RCB and PBKS were facing each other in Qualifier 1 at Mullanpur in New Chandigarh and people were getting ready for a thrilling encounter between the table toppers of the tournament. But RCB’s bowling unit had something different in mind as they dismissed the Kings for just 101 runs in under 15 overs.
Hazlewood and Suyash Sharma were the main architects of Punjab’s batting collapse. They both took three wickets each and were supported well by Yash Dayal who took 2 wickets alongwith Romario Shepherd and Bhuvneshwar Kumar who took a wicket each. Chasing a small target of 102, RCB won the game in a dominant fashion on the back of Phil Salt’s half century and ended the match in just 10 overs.
Suyash Sharma was awarded the Man of the Match for his match winning figures of 3 wickets for 17 runs in 3 overs. In the presentation ceremony he stated that he wouldn’t be celebrating tonight but is certain that he would celebrate after the Finals on 3rd June.
“My coaches gave me just one role, which is to hit the stumps whether I bowl legbreak, googly, flipper or any other variation. It (googly) is my stock ball and also I got a bit of help from the wicket as well. Not quite now (whether he will be celebrating tonight), I will celebrate on 3rd (June) and very hard as well,” Suyash said in the post-match ceremony.
It is not the end of the road for the Punjab Kings as they will await the winner of the Eliminator between the Mumbai Indians and the Gujarat Titans. They will have another chance of reaching the finals if they beat whoever qualifies to the Qualifier 2 out of MI and GT who will face each other on Friday.
