NEW: Punjab Kings bench Raza, fall to Royal Challengers

Online Reporter

Punjab Kings were made to regret their decision to bench Zimbabwean all-rounder Sikandar Raza as they went down to Royal Challengers Bangalore by 24 runs in an entertaining Indian Premier League (IPL) match on Thursday afternoon.

Fresh of his history-making and match-winning innings against the Lucknow Super Giants, Raza was a surprise omission from the team, which also went into the match without their skipper Shikhar Dhawan and South African seamer Kagiso Rabada.

Dhawan continues his journey towards full fitness, while Raza and Rabada made way for Liam Livingstone and Nathan Ellis, respectively.

The Kings won the toss, after which stand-in skipper Sam Curran sent the Royal Challengers in to bat.

It was another decision that Punjab Kings were made to regret, as openers Virat Kholi and Faf du Plessis put on a 98-ball 137-run partnership for the first wicket.

Their opening stand proved to be the foundation of their 174 for four total score during their allotted 20 overs.

At the break, it appeared as if the score was sub-par but, in the end, the absence of Dhawan at the top of innings and Punjab Kings’ usually strong middle-order let them down.

Wickets fell at regular intervals and Punjab Kings failed to make any meaningful partnerships, as they were bowled out for 150 runs.

The only meaningful Punjab Kings resistance came from the duo of opener Prabhsimran Singh and Jitesh Sharma, both of whom fell just short of half-centuries.

Singh top-scored for the Punjab Kings with his 46 runs off 30 balls, while Sharma chipped in with 41 runs off 27 balls.

In the end, the match belonged to Royal Challengers Bangalore’s Mohammed Siraj, whose four wickets for 21 runs helped peg Punjab Kings back in their chase.