You won't believe the absolute thriller we just witnessed at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium! Our very own Royal Challengers Bengaluru locked horns with Punjab Kings in their first encounter this IPL season. And what an encounter it was! RCB was powered by vintage King Kohli, who seems to have rediscovered his form, smashing a sensational fifty. But it was the ice-cool Dinesh Karthik who stunned us all, snatching a win from the jaws of defeat with a masterful knock. His calmness under pressure is just remarkable. Punjab put up a good fight too, with their batting lineup flexing some muscle. But RCB held their nerve to get over the line. Phew, we're still catching our breath after that cliffhanger! Strap in for our full match report and live blog as we take you through all the highlights of this classic IPL contest.
IPL 2024 Live Blog: RCB vs Punjab Kings Match Updates
Kohli & Karthik partnership powers RCB to victory
Royal Challengers Bengaluru openers Virat Kohli and Dinesh Karthik put on a masterclass in T20 batting to lead their side to a thrilling victory over Punjab Kings. The duo put on a record-breaking 209-run opening stand to propel RCB to a massive total of 223/3 from their 20 overs.
In reply, Punjab Kings fell short by just 14 runs, ending on 209/9. Kohli was named player of the match for his scintillating century, scoring 112 from just 65 balls including eight fours and seven sixes. He now holds the record for the most IPL centuries.
Karthik provided able support, notching 87 from 47 deliveries in a welcome return to form. The partnership was the highest opening stand in IPL history, eclipsing the previous record of 185.
Morris & Chahal restrict Punjab Kings
RCB's bowlers faced an onslaught from Punjab Kings' top order, with captain KL Rahul scoring 58 and Mayank Agarwal blasting 45 from 21 balls. However, the introduction of Chris Morris and Yuzvendra Chahal helped turn the tide.
Morris removed both openers in his first over, catching Rahul and then clean bowling Agarwal with a yorker. Chahal also struck twice, dismissing Nicholas Pooran and Mandeep Singh in quick succession.
Some late hitting from Shahrukh Khan gave Punjab hope, but it was too little too late. Morris ended with 3/43 from his four overs, while Chahal took 2/44. RCB climb off the bottom of the table with their first win, while Punjab Kings suffer their second loss.
RCB win a thriller!
In the end, 14 runs separated the two sides in a high-scoring thriller at the Chinnaswamy Stadium. RCB were dominant with the bat but faced a scare against a power-packed Punjab Kings lineup. However, their bowlers held their nerve when it mattered to close out a memorable victory in front of a raucous hometown crowd. What a match! RCB get their campaign up and running in spectacular fashion.
Conclusion
So there you have it folks, what a thriller of a match that was! We saw vintage Virat Kohli in full flow, stroking boundaries with ease and racing to a magnificent century. The King is truly back! Dinesh Karthik provided the perfect finishing touches with a blazing cameo, and RCB got their IPL campaign up and running. Punjab will be disappointed to let this one slip from a strong position, but take nothing away from the brilliance of Kohli and Karthik. That's it from us tonight, we hope you enjoyed our live blog of this classic IPL encounter. Let us know your thoughts on the game. Until next time, goodbye!
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