Punjab Kings (PBKS) pulled off a sensational 16-run win over Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), defending just 111 – the lowest successful defence in IPL history. Just a year after chasing down a record total against the same opponents, PBKS flipped the script in Mullanpur with a gritty bowling performance.
KKR were cruising at 62 for 2 and were overwhelming favourites. But Yuzvendra Chahal triggered a dramatic collapse, taking four wickets as KKR folded for 95. Seamers Marco Jansen and Arshdeep Singh applied pressure with hostile short-pitched bowling to seal a stunning win that lifted PBKS into the top four.
Prabhsimran Singh (30) and debutant Priyansh Arya (22) gave PBKS a flying start, racing to 39 without loss. However, the innings fell apart quickly. Harshit Rana (3-25) used the short ball to good effect, while spinners Sunil Narine (2-14) and Varun Chakravarthy (2-21) dismantled the middle and lower order. PBKS collapsed to 111 all out, losing their last six wickets for just 37 runs.
In reply, Marco Jansen struck early, dismissing Sunil Narine in the opening over. Xavier Bartlett then removed Quinton de Kock, reducing KKR to 7 for 2. Ajinkya Rahane and Angkrish Raghuvanshi tried to steady the chase, but Yuzvendra Chahal turned the game on its head. He dismissed both set batters before removing Rinku Singh and Ramandeep Singh, exploiting the spin-friendly conditions with clever variations.
Andre Russell threatened a late heist with 16 off one Chahal over, reducing the equation. But Arshdeep’s sharp bouncers pinned Vaibhav Arora before Jansen ended Russell’s charge with a bottom edge, sparking wild celebrations.
PBKS, who failed to defend 245 in their last match, turned things around dramatically in this low-scoring thriller.
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