RCB vs PBKS Match 48 Highlights: Chahal, Maxwell star as Royal Challengers Bangalore enter playoffs

Bengaluru, October 3: Royal Challengers Bangalore have defeated Punjab Kings by 6 runs in Match 48 of Indian Premier League (IPL) 2021 at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium in Sharjah on Sunday (October 3).

With this win, the Virat Kohli-led side became the third team after Chennai Super Kings and Delhi Capitals to qualify. This is the second consecutive top-four finish for the RCB in the IPL. They made it to play-offs last year but failed to make it to the finals but this year around they will fancy their chances of clinching the elusive trophy.

Batting first, Royal Challengers Bangalore posted 164/7 as the UAE leg of IPL 14 witnessed the first match where the game saw a total in excess of 160 at this venue. Glenn Maxwell - who has had a phenomenal season from the start of the edition in RCB colours - played another memorable knock as he scored 33-ball 57 to guide his team to a respectable total.

His 79-run partnership with AB de Villiers in the middle overs ensured the Royal Challengers get the crucial runs against a Punjab Kings bowlers. RCB lost Virat Kohli and Dan Christian off successive deliveries from Moises Enriques, but the two senior batters showed their experience and steadied the ship before taking Punjab bowlers to the cleaners.

Maxwell smashed his fourth fifty of the season and continued to make this season a special one for himself. Moises Henriques (3/12) and Mohammed Shami (3/39) emerged as the pick of the bowlers for Punjab.

In response, Punjab Kings were once again off to a solid start as the opening duo of KL Rahul and Mayank Agarwal added 91 runs for the first wicket.

Mayank looked in sublime touch and batted brilliantly in his knock of 57 off 42. Rahul and Mayank complimented each other well and once again forged a fifty-plus partnership.

But flood gates were opened for Punjab Kings once again after Rahul was dismissed for 39 by Shahbaz Ahmed. The storyline continued to transpire in a similar fashion as the middle-order failed to finish it off despite getting to a fine start.

Yuzvendra Chahal (3/29) emerged as the pick of the bowlers for RCB as the wrist-spinner spun his web around Punjab's middle-order batters. Punjab could only muster 158 for the loss of 6 wickets in the 20 overs and lost the match by 6 runs. With this defeat, their chances of a playoff finish are all but over.

Here mykhel takes a look at how Match 48 between RCB and PBKS panned out:

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Oct 03, 2021, 7:18 pm IST

It's all over!! Another clinical finish from RCB as they beat PBKS by 6 runs and qualify into the playoffs. This is the second consecutive playoff qualification for the Virat Kohli-led side.

Oct 03, 2021, 7:16 pm IST

SIX!! Henriques hits a maximum on the penultimate delivery from Harshal but that's too late.

Oct 03, 2021, 7:13 pm IST

Run Out! Shahrukh Khan (16) fells short of the crease in a bid to take the strike on the first ball of Harshal's over. The bowler sends the batsman home with a direct hit. PBKS - 146/6

Oct 03, 2021, 7:12 pm IST

Tidy over from Siraj as he concedes just 8 from it. PBKS need 19 off the last six deliveries.

Oct 03, 2021, 7:08 pm IST

Four! Shahrukh Khan hits a boundary towards the backward point off Siraj

Oct 03, 2021, 7:07 pm IST

26 needed off 10 deliveries. The game is tilting in the favour of RCB.

Oct 03, 2021, 7:06 pm IST

Siraj will be bowling the 19th over for Royal Challengers Bangalore.

Oct 03, 2021, 7:05 pm IST

10 runs came from that Harshal Patel over and Punjab reach 138 for 5 in 18 overs. They now need 27 off 12.

Oct 03, 2021, 7:04 pm IST

SIX!!! Shahrukh Khan dispatches that Harshal Patel delivery into the stands. Powerfully hit! Can he play a blinder today and help his team cross the line?

Oct 03, 2021, 6:58 pm IST

Wicket! Aiden Markram (20) tries to hit the slower one from Garton and Dan Christian takes the catch at mid-off. Punjab Kings lose their fifth wicket for 127.

Oct 03, 2021, 6:56 pm IST

Four!! Aiden Markram starts with a boundary off Garton.

Oct 03, 2021, 6:54 pm IST

Wicket! A beauty from Grandmaster Chahal as he outfoxes Sarfaraz for a golden duck. This could very well be the game-changing over. PBKS - 121/4 in 15.5 overs.

Oct 03, 2021, 6:53 pm IST

SIX!! Markram hits Chahal over long-off and gets a maximum

Oct 03, 2021, 6:52 pm IST

Wicket! A top-edge off Mayank Agarwal's bat and Siraj pouches the ball behind the wicketkeeper to send the set batsman back. Mayank departs for 57. PBKS - 114/3 in 15.2 overs.

Oct 03, 2021, 6:49 pm IST

Siraj leaks 11 runs from that over and PBKS reach 113/2 in 15 overs. 52 needed off 30 deliveries.

Oct 03, 2021, 6:48 pm IST

Four! Aiden Markram hits Siraj over backward point and gets a boundary. Second boundary of this over.

Oct 03, 2021, 6:47 pm IST

Four! Leading-edge from Mayank off Siraj and the ball races towards the third-man boundary.

Oct 03, 2021, 6:43 pm IST

Good over from Garton as he concedes just 2 from it. PBKS reach 101/2 in 14 overs. The pressure of scoreboard building now.

Oct 03, 2021, 6:36 pm IST

Wicket! Nicholas Pooran's poor form continues as he departs for 3. The West Indies batter tried to hit Chahal for a biggie but failed to connect and Padikkal takes fine catch in the deep. PBKS - 99/2 in 12.5 overs.

Oct 03, 2021, 6:35 pm IST

Fifty! Mayank Agarwal gets to his fourth half-century in IPL 2021. He took just 36 deliveries to complete his 11th IPL half-century

Oct 03, 2021, 6:32 pm IST

Just two came from that over bowled by Harshal Patel. Punjab reach 94/1 in 12 overs

Oct 03, 2021, 6:27 pm IST

Nicholas Pooran is in the middle for Punjab Kings. The team will hope for a better performance from the southpaw.

Oct 03, 2021, 6:26 pm IST

Wicket! KL Rahul (39) gets a thick outside edge off Shahbaz and Harshal pouches it comfortably at short third-man. #PBKS - 91/1 in 10.5 overs.

Oct 03, 2021, 6:24 pm IST

SIX!! Mayank Agarwal hits an 87-meter long maximum, straight down the ground off Shahbaz. He's showing his class against spinners.

Oct 03, 2021, 6:22 pm IST

Mayank Agarwal hit two brilliant boundaries off Yuzi Chahal as 9 came off it and Punjab reach 81/0 after 10 overs. They need 83 off 60 balls.

Oct 03, 2021, 6:14 pm IST

Four! Mayank ends the Dan Christian over with a one-bounce boundary towards mid-wicket! 11 runs came from it. PBKS reach 67/0 in 8 overs.

Oct 03, 2021, 6:12 pm IST

Four! Dan Christian bowls on the leg stumps, Mayank Agarwal flicks the ball over the fine leg boundary.

Oct 03, 2021, 6:06 pm IST

Yuzvendra Chahal has been brought into the attack by Virat Kohli soon after the power play. Punjab Kings get single and with that 50 comes up for them in the run chase.

Oct 03, 2021, 6:04 pm IST

Tidy first over from Harshal Patel and Punjab Kings reach 49/0 in 6 overs. This is another fine start from Punjab openers, they need to convert it into a big knock. RCB have failed to get a wicket again in the UAE leg of this edition. They have not picked a single wicket in the first six overs in five games in a row.

Oct 03, 2021, 5:54 pm IST

Four! Mayank Agarwal too joins the party as he gets a boundary off Shahbaz towards the deep point. Brilliantly timed.