Punjab Kings vs Royal Challengers Bangalore Match Highlights & Results

Right then! What a Super Sunday we have had! Two closely fought encounters with the teams chasing winning it in the end. Delhi and Punjab opened their accounts by defeating a familiar foe. The action continues in the Indian T20 League on Monday, the 28th of March as the two new faces in the competition square off against each other. It's Gujarat versus Lucknow and the match begins at 7.30 pm IST (2 pm GMT) but the build-up will begin much earlier as usual. Till then, goodbye and take care!

Odean Smith is the PLAYER OF THE MATCH for his power-hitting at the death that took Punjab over the line. He says they were stressing for a good start and they believed in it. Adds he did not have the best time with the ball but he did well to get his team home with the bat. Tells that his execution was not on point but they keep on believing and watch motivating movies to keep inspiring themselves.

Mayank Agarwal the captain of Punjab says two points at the start are very important and to chase 200 is never easy but they batted really well. He adds that it was a good wicket overall and eased out as the game went on and they took a few risks that came off. Mentions that they gave away 15-20 more with the ball and the way Faf and Virat batted was remarkable. Adds that they do have depth in the batting department and they trust their skills regardless of it coming off or not just to keep positivity in the camp.

Time for the presentation ceremony...

Bhanuka Rajapaksa is down for a quick chat. He says they played freely and Wanindu Hasaranga is his teammate so he knew him for the past few years. Adds this is a confident booster and they are taking one game after other. Tells every game is a batter's game but their bowlers did well to keep them near 200 but in the middle-overs, they gave away around 130 runs and he is sure, the bowlers will do better.

Faf du Plessis the skipper of Bangalore is up for a quick chat. Faf says their batting was really good but they dropped catches and gave away chances. It's cliche 'catches win you matches' he says. Adds Punjab had a good Powerplay and the ball skidded in the middle phase. Mentions Khan and Smith played brilliantly and he mentions, the first innings running has made him tired. Adds that the ball was swinging in the first innings but they went through is very pleasing for them.

New captain, same old woes for Bangalore. They scored 205 runs and thought they had done a good job at the interval but the experienced pair of David Willey and Mohammed Siraj didn't provide a good start in the Powerplay, with Siraj being taken to the cleaners. Even the other star bowlers in the side, Wanindu Hasaranga and Harshal Patel went for runs at an alarming rate. Mohammed Siraj then came back into the attack and got a double breakthrough but turned villain quickly as he went for 25 in his final over, leaving nothing to defend in the last two overs. An important dropped catch from Anuj Rawat who was having a ball in the field also proved to be costly as Smith did hit a few lusty blows. Bangalore will now look to pull up their socks and bounce back with a win.

Punjab needed a good start and skipper Mayank Agarwal along with Shikhar Dhawan provided just that as they raced to 50 within no time. Mayank fell but then came in a surprise package in the form of Bhanuka Rajapaksa who took the game by the scruff of the neck and didn't allow the opposition bowlers to settle. Along with Dhawan, Rajapaksa took Punjab to comfort but then the wickets started tumbling. Raj Bawa got out for a golden duck but they kept on playing their shots. Liam Livingstone hit a couple of big sixes and then at the death, Shahrukh Khan just stayed at the crease and allowed Odean Smith to pummel the bowlers and seal the win.

What a remarkable chase this has been from Punjab and they have chased down a score of 200 plus with an over to spare! Shades of David Miller's heroics against Bangalore in 2013 but this time it has been a team effort from Punjab. They have truly deserved the win and after having all the depth in the bowling department, it's the same old story for Bangalore, they just can't defend scores. This is also Punjab's equal highest successful run chase in the Indian T20 League.

FOUR! Khan hits the winning runs! What a partnership this was! Fullish and on off. Khan muscles it past the bowler and to long off for a boundary. Punjab win by 5 wickets.

A yorker, around off. Khan shuffles across and digs it out back to Patel.

Full and wide, Shahrukh Khan looks to cover drive but the balls sneaks under the willow.

SIX! Easy pickings! An off cutter, full and on off. Khan waits,waits and waits as he thumps it over long off for a biggie.

Bangs a bouncer and on middle. Khan misses his pull.

Wide! Yet another extra! This is on a length and outside off. Another wide.

Fuller ball, on off, slower. Khan pushes it to deep covers for a couple of runs.

SIX! It is his power, just sheer power! Short ball, on off. Smith rides the bounce and tonks it well over long off for a maximum. 11 runs needed in 12 balls.

Leg bye! Full and angling on the pads. Khan misses his heave. A leg bye as it goes off the pads to point.

Faf du Plessis seems out of sorts here and is having a discussion with the bowler after every single ball. The fielders are being chopped and changed and they are trying to work out a plan to save the boundary.

Shorter and on off. Smith thumps it to long off for a run.

SIX! Smith showing his power! This is on a length and outside off. Smith hangs back and again shows his power over covers for a biggie.

FOUR! A length ball, angling on the pads. Smith wrists it to square leg and beats the fielder there for a boundary. 11 run off the first three balls.

Wide! Too many extras from Bangalore! Full ball, way outside off, over the tramline. Smith swings and misses.

SIX! Perfect start! A length ball, outside off. Smith powers it flat and over sweeper cover for a biggie.

This is full and on off. Khan tries to go over long off but does not power it much. David Willey is in two minds, to catch it on a bounce or go for it. He takes it on a bounce and keeps it down to two. An eventful over from Harshal Patel.

Mohammed Siraj (3-0-35-2) to bowl out here.

Wide! Full ball, way outside off. Khan leaves it.

A full toss, outside off. Khan hits it straight to covers. Smith wanted a single and he committed himself. Khan says no. He rushed back and a sloppy throw just help him to get back with a dive.

Wide! Way outside off. A wide given.

DROPPED! Anuj Rawat the culprit! A length ball, outside off. Smith powers it to deep cover but Anuj Rawat is stationed there, he runs to his right and drops a regulation catch. Will this prove costly?

Fullish and on off. Khan squeezes it out to deep cover for a single. Singles won't do for Punjab.

A full toss, outside off. Khan swings in the air and connects thin air.

Wide! Keeps it away from the arc, over the tramline. Left alone.

A pace off delivery, fuller and on off. Smith pushes it to mid off for a single.

Tossed up, on off, pushed back to Hasaranga.

SIX! Much needed! A full ball on off. Khan gets low and hammers it to long off for a biggie.

Shorter and quicker and around off. Khan guides it to point. Superb from Hasaranga.

Tossed up, full and on off. Khan leans and keeps it out.

Fuller this time, on middle. Khan defends it out.

A googly, short and outside off. Khan chops it to point.

Full, around off. Smith can't get it through the cover region. 50 needed now off 30 balls.

Odean Smith is the new batter in.

OUT! TAKEN! Anuj Rawat with another catch in the match and his efforts in the field are making a difference here. Full and wide, Liam Livingstone throws his hands at it. Livingstone carves it towards the cover-point fence. Rawat races in from the fence and dives in front to take a magnificent catch. Akash Deep gets the last laugh and Livingstone has to depart, leaving the game in the balance once more.

Brilliant fielding in the deep from Anuj Rawat and he saves a certain boundary. This is banged in short and outside off. Livingstone hits it tennis-ball style and the ball seems to be racing towards the fence but it is cut off. Just the two taken.

SIX! Smoked! Full and straight, Livingstone goes flat downtown and gets it over the ropes for a biggie.

Short and wide, slapped away in front of square on the off side for a couple of runs.

Pitched up, on off. This is driven down to long off for a single.

Strategic Time-Out! Two wickets in the last over have just helped Bangalore get back into the game. Still, 61 runs needed in 36 balls and Punjab have a job in hand. Liam Livingstone and Shahrukh Khan need to make sure they take the team home. Also, Akash Deep is back into the attack.

Full and straight, squeezed off the inner half of the bat towards short fine leg for a run.

Back of a length, around off. Livingstone works it through mid-wicket for a single.

WIDE! A third wide in the over from Siraj. Slower one, pushed beyond the tramline. Livingstone leaves it alone.

Very full, on the pads. Livingstone looks to flick it fine but gets it off the pads. DK does well to dive to his left and make the stop.

Pitched up, on off. This is pushed down the ground for a single.

WIDE! This is fuller and angled way down the leg side. Another wide and the adrenaline is pumping now for Mohammed Siraj, he needs to just calm down a bit.

WIDE! Banged in short and down the leg side. Khan looks to hook it away but misses. Wide signalled.

Shahrukh Khan comes in.

OUT! LBW! Two in two for Mohammed Siraj and Raj Bawa marks his Indian T20 League debut with a golden duck. Siraj bowls a low full toss, curving into the pads and that's not an easy delivery to put away first ball. Bawa misses the flick and gets pinged on the pads. Siraj appeals and the finger is raised. Punjab lose another wicket and Siraj is on a hat-trick. What a quick turn of events this has been!

Raj Bawa comes out.

OUT! TAKEN! Mohammed Siraj was having a poor outing with the ball up until now but he might have just turned the game on its head. Siraj goes cross seam, outside off. Bhanuka Rajapaksa hangs back and looks to cut but does so uppishly and straight into the bread basket of the fielder at point. Shahbaz Ahmed takes a comfortable catch and Rajapaksa has to depart after a blistering knock. Can Bangalore now capitalize?

On leg stump, swept away to deep square leg for a single. 67 needed now off 42 balls.

SIX! Bhanuka Rajapaksa making it look easy out there. Flighted delivery, around leg. Rajapaksa shimmies down the track and lifts it over the mid-wicket fence for a biggie.

TWO WIDES! Wanindu Hasaranga under pressure here. Goes quicker and fuller but spills it beyond the tramline. The ball goes off the keeper's pads towards short third man and they scamper through as well.

This is pushed through on off. Blocked.

SIX! Monster hit from Liam Livingstone. Tossed up, on off. Livingstone dances down the track and launches it way, way over the long off fence for a biggie.

On a lengthy, around leg. Rajapaksa looks to turn it leg side but gets an outside edge towards short third man. They get one.

Flatter delivery, on off. This is punched down to long off for a single by Livingstone.

Dot ball to end a top over from Harshal Patel. Slower again, fuller and going across the left-hander. Rajapaksa is left bamboozled as he looks to cut.

Slower one, on a length and around leg stump. Rajapaksa walks down the track but gets beaten on the inside edge.

WIDE! Attempted slower bouncer now, over head height and well outside off. Wide called.

Length, angling into middle and leg. Rajapaksa wistfully flicks it towards deep backward square leg for a brace.

On off, nudged out towards covers for a quick single.

Liam Livingstone is in next.

OUT! TAKEN! Harshal Patel comes back into the attack and its the slower delivery that has done the trick. Pitched up, around off. Shikhar Dhawan makes room and advances looking to go inside out over extra cover. He is undone by the lack of pace and ends up pushing it uppishly towards the man at extra cover. Anuj Rawat takes a simple catch and Bangalore have the crucial breakthrough. 88 needed now off 52 balls.

Just short! Shikhar Dhawan dances down the track and Patel angles it into the body. Dhawan goes through with the shot and lifts it towards the backward square leg region for a couple of runs.

SIX! Bhanuka Rajapaksa is on fire here! On the hips, lifted high and handsome, clearing the backward square leg fence for yet another maximum. 19 off the over and Punjab keeping up with the required run rate.

Excellent effort in the deep from Harshal Patel and he saves a couple of runs for his side. Length, outside off. Rajapaksa slices it high and towards the third man fence. Patel runs in from the backward point fence and puts in a courageous dive for the catch. He doesn't quite get there but shows great presence of mind to save the boundary.

Nicely bowled! Slower one, banged in around off. Rajapaksa looks to pull but gets undone by the lack of pace.

FOUR! The boundaries are flowing at the moment for Punjab. Fullish in length, outside off. Rajapaksa hangs back and carves it through point for a boundary.

Shorter this time, on middle. Dhawan gets inside the line again and pulls it on the bounce to the fielder at fine leg for a single.

SIX! Full and on the pads, Shikhar Dhawan walks across his stumps and whips it off his legs. He gets it over the fine leg fence for a maximum. The 100 is up for Punjab.

Another googly, on the pads. Rajapaksa leans to defend but gets beaten there.

A googly, on the pads, swept to deep square leg for one more.

Flighted in the air, on middle, eased to long on for one.

FOUR! Rajapaksa is taking on Wanindu Hasaranga! Full, quicker and on middle. Rajapaksa slog-sweeps it to square leg for a boundary.

SIX! Hammered! A tossed up delivery, around leg. Rajapaksa reaches to the pitch of the ball and heaves it all the way over mid-wicket for a biggie.

Very full and on off. Dhawan uses his feet and smashes it to long off for a single.

Slower one, on a length, angling outside off. Rajapaksa steers it to short third man.

Patel misses his yorker and serves a full toss, on middle, nudged to mid-wicket for a single.

On a length, on middle. Rajapaksa plays with soft hands to the leg side and takes a quick single.

SIX! A length ball, on off. Rajapaksa pulls it, not quite of the middle but hits it to the shorter side at square leg for a biggie.

A full ball, on middle at 110 clicks. Dhawan bunts it to deep square leg for a single.

A length ball angling from around the wicket on off. Dhawan knocks it to covers.

A flighted ball, on a length and on middle. Rajapaksa tucks it to deep mid-wicket for a couple of runs.

On off. Blocked out.

This is on a length and just outside off. Rajapaksa looks to play it to third man but misses.

A quicker ball, on middle. Dhawan works it to square leg and the batters get a single.

Tossed up, on the pads, flicked to deep square leg for a single.

Wanindu Hasaranga is brought into the attack now.

Bhanuka Rajapaksa walks in at number 3.

OUT! TAKEN! What a start from Wanindu Hasaranga! He is a match-winner, truly! Slightly short and on middle. Agarwal gets low to pull and he hits it flat to Shahbaz Ahmed who is standing inside the ring at square leg, takes a sharp catch. Finally, Bangalore find the breakthrough.