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Last season, Punjab Kings achieved the IPL’s highest successful chase against Kolkata Knight Riders, showcasing their batting prowess. This year, they’ve pulled off the lowest successful defence, skittling KKR for 95 after setting a modest 111. Thanks to Chahal’s Four-For Stun, because of his huge contribution to the win. Remarkably, this came after failing to defend 245 against Sunrisers Hyderabad in their last game, making Chahal’s Four-For Stun a testament to their bowling resilience.
At 62/2, KKR seemed certain to win with a 98% chance, but Yuzvendra Chahal unleashed a stunning collapse in conditions suiting seamers like a Test match, crafting his Four-For Stunner. Arshdeep Singh and Marco Jansen finished it off with clever short balls, mirroring KKR’s strategy that led to a small chase.
The ball swung 0.5 degrees on average, with both teams batting aggressively from the start. Full deliveries raced away due to the lively pitch, but wickets tumbled in bunches once they started falling. The match swung dramatically, events unfolding at breakneck speed. PBKS rocketed from 39/0 in 19 balls to 15/4 in the next 17, losing their last six wickets for 37.
KKR stumbled to 7/2 in 1.2 overs but blasted 55 in the next 38 balls. Chahal’s Four-For Stunner triggered a collapse of six wickets in 5.2 overs. Andre Russell smashed 16 off one Chahal over, pushing his figures to 4-0-28-4, but the towering left-arm pacers clinched the victory, propelling PBKS into the top four.
Prabhsimran and Arya hit the ground running
KKR bolstered their pace attack with Anrich Nortje, aiming to challenge PBKS’s young Indian batsmen, who’ve been carrying the team’s batting load. Yet, the openers attacked Vaibhav Arora’s second over, hinting at another high-scoring rampage.
Harshit Rana shifted the momentum with shorter lengths, setting the stage for Chahal’s Four-For Stunner. The wickets seemed routine, but the short balls sowed doubt, halting slightly and seaming sharply, perfectly complementing Chahal’s Four-For Stunner later. Priyansh Arya skied one to deep square leg, Shreyas Iyer sliced a wide short ball to deep point, and Prabhsimran Singh was cramped on his cut.
Ramandeep Singh pouched all three catches with ease.
KKR spinners mop up
Anticipating fiery pace, PBKS strengthened their foreign batting lineup by swapping Marcus Stoinis for Josh Inglis. Yet, both overseas stars struggled to pick Varun Chakravarthy’s variations. Inglis got bowled attempting a slog-sweep against a wrong’un, while Glenn Maxwell misjudged, chasing a risky single, contributing to Punjab Kings’ Batting Collapse.
PBKS desperately opted for an SOS substitution, leaving Maxwell as the fifth bowling option amid Punjab Kings’ Batting Collapse. Sunil Narine struck twice in one over, removing Impact Player Suryansh Shedge and Marco Jansen, amplifying Chahal’s Four-For Stunner. A clumsy run-out between Arshdeep Singh and debutant Xavier Bartlett sealed a dismal innings. KKR’s seamers, showcasing KKR’s Bowling Dominance, claimed 4 wickets for 23 runs in 29 short-pitched balls under 8m, while 24 fuller deliveries leaked 49 runs, highlighting their strategic edge.
Russell gives PBKS a scare
Nearing the league stage’s midpoint, Andre Russell’s strike rate was a mere 92, his season total 23 off 25, and his match score 1 off 4. Harshit Rana, the last capable partner, was worn down and dismissed by Jansen’s short-pitched bowling. KKR needed 33 runs with only two wickets left, staring at KKR’s Batting Collapse. Then Russell roared to life, smashing Chahal for two sixes and a four in a fiery over, slashing the target in half and sparking Russell’s Late Surge, though Chahal’s Four-For Stunner kept PBKS in control.
The over ended, and Russell still had another shot at the target. However, he bottom-edged the first ball of the next over to kickstart rapturous celebrations in Mullanpur.
