Twitter Reactions: All-round PBKS thrash RCB to make playoff equations more complicated

The IPL 2022 points table continues to get more complicated as the race for the playoffs has intensified. Punjab Kings on Friday (May 13) recorded an emphatic 54–run triumph over Royal Challengers Bangalore to jump to the sixth place in the team standings. While this victory has boosted PBKS’ chances of going through, RCB now need more than just winning their remaining game.

Earlier in the match, Royal Challengers Bangalore won the toss and elected to bowl at the Brabourne Stadium in Mumbai. The track was a batting paradise and PBKS batters made full use of it. Jonny Bairstow wreaked havoc in the powerplay overs as the Kings got off to a flying start. Shikhar Dhawan complemented him well as the duo added 60 runs for the opening wicket.

While the in-form Dhawan perished for 21 on this occasion, Bairstow brought up a quickfire fifty and ended up scoring 66. The dasher passed over the baton to fellow Englishman Liam Livingstone, who also put up a batting exhibition. Despite not getting much support from the other end, Livingstone played a destructive knock and took PBKS past the 200-run mark.

Yet another destructive knock from Liam Livingstone

He eventually ended up scoring a 42-ball 70 as the Kings posted 209/9 in their allotted 20 overs. The damage would have been more had Harshal Patel not pulled things back towards the end and scalped a four-wicket haul. With such a massive total on the board, RCB unsurprisingly went all guns blazing.

While both openers Faf du Plessis and Virat Kohli played some fine shots early on, neither of them could convert their starts. In fact, this was the tale of the entire RCB innings. After the Royal Challengers lost three wickets inside six runs, Rajat Patidar joined forces with Glenn Maxwell and the duo steadied the ship.

However, once they departed, it was one-way traffic. Even the evergreen and in-form Dinesh Karthik looked rusty during his stay in the middle. While all PBKS bowlers were among the wickets, Kagiso Rabada was the pick of them, recording figures of 3/21 in four overs. As a result, RCB were restricted to 155/9, losing the contest by 54 runs.

Meanwhile, let’s look at how Twitter reacted to PBKS’ triumph: 

Outstanding catch Harpreet Brar! #RCBvsPBKS #IPL2022 #IPL

— Mpumelelo Mbangwa (@mmbangwa) May 13, 2022

Congratulations for the purple cap @Wanindu49 👏
Really happy to see Sri Lankan players making a mark once again in the IPL.

It’s gonna be an exciting battle between the two spin masters, @yuzi_chahal and Wanindu for the purple cap😍#IPL2022

— Lasith Malinga (@ninety9sl) May 13, 2022

Irf you can’t use the word block with Livingstone! Haha

— Dale Steyn (@DaleSteyn62) May 13, 2022

Oh shabaash shero! Kamaal karta @PunjabKingsIPL 👏 👏 👏 A thumping win and crucial 2 points in the kitty. Not to forget the NRR that will be crucial in the tournament ahead. #RCBvPBKS #IPL2022

— Harbhajan Turbanator (@harbhajan_singh) May 13, 2022

Punjab played like kings today. Too good from all the bowlers on this flat pitch. Rabada was special again.

— Irfan Pathan (@IrfanPathan) May 13, 2022

Punjab Kings' results against RCB since IPL 2020:

W.
W.
W.
L.
W.
W.

– 5 wins out of 6 games for PBKS, a top record.

— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) May 13, 2022

Rishi Dhawan has picked Hardik Pandya, Sanju Samson and now Faf Du Plessis in last 3 matches. The Captain remover for Punjab Kings.

— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) May 13, 2022

Top spell by @HarshalPatel23 👏 But this is a big total for #RCB to chase. Brilliantly set up for @PunjabKingsIPL by @jbairstow21 first and then by @liaml4893 Phatte chak te, Punjabiyo! 🔥 #RCBvPBKS #IPL2022

— Harbhajan Turbanator (@harbhajan_singh) May 13, 2022

Punjab played like kings today. Too good from all the bowlers on this flat pitch. Rabada was special again.

— Irfan Pathan (@IrfanPathan) May 13, 2022

👑 A Royal win for the Kings! 👑#SaddaPunjab #IPL2022 #PunjabKings #RCBvPBKS #ਸਾਡਾਪੰਜਾਬ

— Punjab Kings (@PunjabKingsIPL) May 13, 2022