Kings Fall Like Pins At Home; RCB March Into Their Fourth IPL Final

A collective bowling effort from RCB meant the Rajat Patidar-led team thrash PBKS by eight wickets in Qualifier 1

- Shalini Gupta

MULLANPUR: Even before the crowd could settle at the PCA Stadium in New Chandigarh, hoping to see fireworks from the home team Punjab Kings (PBKS) who were asked to bat first against Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in Qualifier 1, the inevitable happened.

PBKS batting collapsed in a heap in swinging conditions with only three batters managing to reach double figures. The result was a paltry 101 runs with 35 legal deliveries still to be bowled.

RCB overhauled the target with eight wickets and 10 overs to spare, the win sending RCB to their first final since 2016. While Rajat Patidar's team are only a step away from winning their first trophy, PBKS will have to toil in the Qualifier 2 on June 1.

RCB bowling trio of Suyash Sharma (3/17), Josh Hazlewood (3/21), and Yash Dayal (2/26) ran through the PBKS batting line-up and reduced them to their lowest total in the tournament on a wicket that offered some seam, bounce and also turn.