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IPL: Positive start for Punjab Kings and Gujarat Titans

Punjab Kings vs Royal Challengers Bangalore

On Sunday, Punjab Kings beat Royal Challengers Bangalore by five wickets in their Indian Premier League match. The Punjab side chased down a massive target of 206 with six balls to spare in a thrilling, high-scoring game. Shikhar Dhawan and Bhanuka Rajapaksa scored 43 each up the order, while M Shahrukh Khan and Odean Smith remained not out on 24 and 25, respectively, as Punjab reached 208 for 5 in 19 overs. For RCB, Mohammed Siraj was the most successful bowler with figures of 2/59.

Earlier, RCB posted 205 for two after being asked to bat. Captain Faf du Plessis top-scored with a 57-ball 88, while Virat Kohli made 41 not out as the duo shared 118 runs for the second wicket. Dinesh Karthik chipped in with a quickfire 32 not out off 14 balls. For Punjab Kings, Rahul Chahar and Arshdeep Singh took a wicket apiece.

Punjab got off to a solid 71-run start from the new opening pair of Mayank Agarwal (32) and Shikhar Dhawan (43) before Sri Lankan Bhanuka Rajapaksa stroked a fiery 22-ball 43.

Gujarat Titans vs Lucknow Super Giants 

Rahul Tewatia and Abhinav Manohar remained unbeaten on 40 and 15 as Gujarat Titans defeated Lucknow Super Giants by five wickets in the 4th game of the Indian Premier League (IPL) at the Wankhede Stadium on Monday. Chasing 159, Gujarat Titans kept on losing wickets at regular intervals, but in the end, Tewatia held his nerve to take Gujarat over the line. David Miller also played a crucial knock of 30 runs off 21 balls for Hardik Pandya’s side. Earlier, Lucknow Super Giants posted 158/6 after being asked to bat. KL Rahul’s side was reduced to 29/4 inside the powerplay, but Deepak Hooda and Ayush Badoni scored half-centuries to take Lucknow’s score past the 150-run mark.

Pacer Mohammed Shami bowled a fiery opening spell before Rahul Tewatia smashed an unbeaten 40 to help Gujarat Titans register a 5-wicket win over Lucknow Super Giants in their maiden IPL match here on Monday.

Shami (3/25) bowled a fiery opening spell to knock the wind out of the Super Giants’ top order before Gujarat Titans Deepak Hooda (55 off 41 balls) and Ayush Badoni (54 off 41 balls) smashed the fifties to help their team post 158 for six.

Skipper Hardik Pandya (33), all-rounder Tewatia (40 not out), Matthew Wade (30) and David Miller (30) then rallied together to take the Titans over the line. Apart from Shami’s three, Varun Aaron picked two wickets (2/45) while Rashid Khan (1/27) accounted for one batter for the Titans. Dushmantha Chameera (2/22) was the pick of the bowlers for Super Giants.