Live Cricket Score - PBKS vs RCB, Match 26, IPL 2021

PBKS win by 34 runs

A game to remember for young Harpreet Brar. To get Kohli, Maxwell and AB in an IPL would be good, to get them in one four-over spell is the stuff of dreams. RCB never got going in the chase and it's another left-arm spinner that has done for them this season. Back to the drawing board for them before they face KKR. An important win for Punjab Kings, their third of the season. They'll hope to build on this!

A flouish to finish

for RCB. Harshal Patel gets a couple of boundaries. Kyle Jamieson crunches Riley Meredith into the stands. A few percentage points saved on the NRR. A good 31 off 13 for Harshal, redeems himself a bit after conceding 53 with the ball.

Injury concern for Meredith

He hobbles off with 4 balls to go in the game. A full ball is drilled right back by Jamieson. It pings him on the knee. He walks off with a smile. Brave face. But that did not look good.

RCB are heading to just their second defeat, but this one looks like it's going to be another one with a big margin. Will the NRR come to haunt them later in the season? It could even cost them a top-two spot... Second half to come nevertheless.

And two more... Shahbaz Ahmed falls.Just the formalities left to be completed. RCB didn't show up in the chase at all. Ravi Bishnoi, who gets Shahbaz miscuing a slog clean bowls Daniel Sams with a googly. Harshal Patel just about keeps out the hat-trick ball, another googly!

Jordan sends back Patidar who holes out to Pooran in the deep. RCB are slipping.Patidar's struggle comes to an end.

OUTT!!! AB IS GONE!No special from AB, then, but we're having a special from Brar who has broken the back of RCB's batting with Kohli, Maxwell and AB! RCB need 110 off 44, it's getting touger.

No hat-trick... AB negates it. However, the game has changed.

AND ANOTHER! A first-ball duck for Maxwell!He's knocked over Maxwell who got done in by drift too. On a hat-trick now as RCB are 62/3.

OUT!! Kohli is done in by Harpreet!He comes down the track to the spinner and misses and gets knocked over. He departs fo a 34-ball 35. RCB are just about over 60 in 10 overs.

OUUUT! The stumps are knocked over!Meredith strikes early as Padikkal has to go!

Back for the chase

KL Rahul's love affair with RCB continues as he takes Punjab to 179.Punjab didn't seem like they would get to this total given their slow middle overs. However, the last three overs fetched them 45 runs, despite a 7-run over from Siraj. Rahul remained unbeaten on 91 off 57, finishing strong after reeling at 118/5. Harshal Patel's last two overs conceded 40 runs for RCB. Dew will play a part later? Let's see when we return for the chase.

The first boundary since Gayle's wicket comes in the 18th over...

150 up for Punjab! They're in this as long as Rahul is in the middle.

BOWLED HIM! Chahal is back?!Looks like him of the old. He knocks Shahrukh Khan over for a duck! Punjab lose their fifth.

OUT!! Shahbaz strikes in his first over!Hooda skies one toRajat Patidar, falling right into the trap laid out for him. If you've not read it on our commentary yet, hee's what it reads! "With the leg-side boundary bigger at this end, the ploy was for Shahbaz to attack the middle-and-leg line and force the big shot across the line. Hooda tries to go over fine leg with his swivel-sweep but doesn't quite connect well."

OUT!! Jamieson strikes and Pooran gets his fourth duck of the season! A three-ball one this time.It was the short ball that did him in as Pooran tries to slice it. He's caught at backward point.

50 for KL! His runs against RCB don't stop, do they?

100 up for PBKS!

OUT!!The bouncer from Sams and Gayle gloves it to ABD! It's the BIG WICKET of the Universe Boss for a 24-ball 46!

50 up for Punjab.

Big over this for Punjab! They score as many as FIVE FOURS in that over from Gayle as Punjab end the powerplay on 49/1.

OUT!! That's the first strike! Prabhsimran has to go!Prabhsimran was looking to be too aggressive, and goes after a short ball. Kohli takes an easy catch.

No Gayle opening then.Rahul and Prabhsimran are opening for Punjab Kings. Daniel Sams will open for RCB.

Playing XIs:

Royal Challengers Bangalore: Virat Kohli(c), Devdutt Padikkal, Rajat Patidar, Glenn Maxwell, AB de Villiers(w), Shahbaz Ahmed, Daniel Sams, Kyle Jamieson, Harshal Patel, Mohammed Siraj, Yuzvendra Chahal

Punjab Kings: KL Rahul(w/c), Chris Gayle, Deepak Hooda, Nicholas Pooran, Prabhsimran Singh, Shahrukh Khan, Chris Jordan, Harpreet Brar, Ravi Bishnoi, Mohammed Shami, Riley Meredith

With no Mayank, should PBKS open with Gayle and Rahul? Write in @kritzika

TOSS TIME! RCB opt to bowl.Just one change for RCB - Shahbaz Ahmed in for Washington Sundar.

For Punjab, three changes: Moises, Arshdeep & Mayank OUT!Prabhsimran, Riley Meredith, Harpreet Brar IN. Mayank hurt himself, FYI.

Here's what the pitch reportsays: It was the same surface that was used last night for the DC vs KKR game. "It has got some nice grass coverage and the new ball comes on nicely. The track is brown, and you got to make the most of the new ball."

Punjab are looking to jump back to winning ways, but they are up against a rampant RCB! Hello, and welcome to Match #26 of the IPL 2021.

Remember KL Rahul's scintillating knock of 132 the last time these teams met in Dubai? Rahul was at his very best as he blew RCB away single-handedly. He did it twice in 2020 - can he once again? Punjab have been inconsistent to say the least. It's just not coming together for them. Just yet. Can they turn it around today?

RCB have been clinical this time around, with nothing stopping them, with both, batting and bowling coming together this time around. Maxwell has been a revelation at RCB, not just playing to his potential, giving their middle order stability that they've lacked taking away pressure off of ABD.