IPL2025: PBKS Vs KKR; 16 runs win for Punjab against KKR

 IPL2025: PBKS Vs KKR;  16 runs win for Punjab against KKR

Mohali: Punjab registered a 16-run win in the IPL cricket match against Kolkata Knight Riders in Mohali, Punjab.Batting first, Punjab Kings scored a modest total of 111 runs. Chasing this total, Kolkata Knight Riders lost all wickets in 15.1 overs and could only score 95 runs.Yajuvendra Chahal's spin charm literally snatched victory from the hands of Kolkata Knight Riders for Punjab Kings.Set a paltry target of 111 runs to the Kolkata team, Shreyas Iyer's team won by 16 runs. Chahal (4-0-28-4) snatched the opportunity for the Kolkata team to win easily. Left-arm pacer Marco Lo (3.1-0-17-3) provided them with the rock. As a result, defending champions Kolkata scored 95 runs in 15.1 overs and were bowled out.

This is the shortest total successfully defended in the history of IPL. In 2009, Chennai Super Kings defended the total of 116 runs against Punjab Kings.

Shreyas Iyer led the Kolkata team as champions in last year's tournament.Shreyas, who is leading the Punjab Kings team this time, gave a shock to his former team.

Punjab won the toss and elected to bat in the match at the Maharaja Yaduvendra Singh International Cricket Stadium on Tuesday. Punjab scored 111 runs in 15.3 overs led by Kolkata pacer Harshit Rana (3 for 25).

After scoring 39 runs without losing a wicket in the first 3.1 overs of the innings, the Punjab team lost 10 wickets in the next 72 runs. Varun Chakraborty and Sunil Narayan also showed skill with two wickets each.showed But Chahal, the leg-spinner, was the charm that overshadowed the game of all of them.

Marco Jansen shocked the Kolkata team chasing the target in the first over. Narayan was clean bowled by Marco who celebrated. In the second over Quinton de Kock was dismissed off the bowling of Bartlett. This boosted the confidence of the home team.Realizing that the spinners were getting help on the pitch, Chahal risked his potential. Kolkata skipper Ajinkya Rahane including four key batsmen hampered the game. Shreyas worked to ensure that the fielding and bowling combination did not go wrong at any stage.  

However, Andre Russell was expected to turn the game around in the last stage. He hit two sixes and brought the Kolkata team close to victory. But Marko and Arshdeep Singh joined the Kings to shore up the win for Punjab.

Brief Score: Punjab Kings:

111 in 15.3 overs (Priyansh Arya 22, Prabhasimran Singh 30, Nehal Wadhera 10, Shashank Singh 18, Xavier Bartlett 11, Harshit Rana 3 for 25, Varun Chakraborty 2 for 21, Sunil Narine 2 for 14) Kolkata Knight Riders: 15.1 95 overs (Angakrish Raghuvanshi 37, Andre Russell 17, Marco Janssen 3 for 17, Yajuvendra Chahal 4 for 28) Result: Punjab Kings win by 16 runs.