Faf du Plessis’ scintillating knock of 88 went in vain, as Royal Challengers Bangalore went down to Punjab Kings in a thrilling contest at the DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai on Sunday.
After being sent into bat by PBKS skipper Mayank Agarwal, RCB openers Du Plessis and Anuj Rawat got their side off to a steady start. The RCB captain in the fourth over, got a reprieve when Shahrukh Khan dropped him at midwicket.
However the partnership of 50 runs was broken when Rahul Chahar cleaned up Rawat for 21. The 37 year old Du Plessis along with Virat Kohli featured in a 118 run stand for the second wicket before the former fell 12 run short of his maiden ton.
Kohli (41)* and Dinesh Karthik (32)* added a quickfire unbeaten 37 run stand off just 13 deliveries to take RCB to a mammoth score of 205/2 in their allotted 20 overs.
For Punjab Kings, Rahul Chahar and Arshdeep Singh claimed a wicket each.
Chasing 206, openers Mayank Agarwal and Shikhar Dhawan got PBKS off to a quickfire start. The pair put on 71 runs for the opening wicket before Wanindu Hasaranga broke the partnership by dismissing the former straight to the hands of Shahbaz Ahmed at square leg.
Bhanuka Rajapaksa then joined Dhawan and the duo put on 47 runs for the second wicket before the latter (43) was caught at covers by Anuj Rawat off Harshal Patel.
Mohammed Siraj brought RCB back into the contest with wickets of Rajapaksa and Raj Bawa in successive deliveries.
With 36 requiring off 18 deliveries, Odean Smith (25* off 8) hit Siraj for three sixes and a four in the 18th over to swing the momentum in PBKS favour.
Shahrukh Khan (24*) played the finishing role by smacking Harshal Patel for a six and a boundary to guide Punjab to a famous win with an over to spare.
Smith was declared the Player of the match for his breezy knock.