'Total entertainment' - Twitter goes berserk as Punjab cakewalks daunting chase

Fans couldn't have asked for a better Sunday as both the games turned out to be thrilling contests. The second game saw Punjab beating Bangalore by five wickets. Like the first game, it was once again the lower middle-order that stole the show.

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After winning the toss and electing to bowl first, Punjab's bowlers were fairly decent in the powerplay overs. Despite not picking a wicket, they controlled the flow of runs. Bangalore's newly-appointed captain Faf du Plessis took his time to settle.

After which, he was simply marvellous as he went from being 17 off 30 balls to 88 off 57 deliveries. He was well supported by Virat Kohli, who scored an unbeaten 41 off 29 deliveries. Dinesh Karthik's cameo enabled them to cross the 200-run mark as he took just 14 balls to score 32.

As Punjab had to chase 206 in the second innings to win the game, they couldn't afford to waste any deliveries. They started well as their openers Mayank Agarwal and Shikhar Dhawan looked positive from ball one. While the Punjab captain was dismissed after scoring 32 from 24 balls, the 36-year-old was batting really well until Bangalore's blue-eyed boy Harshal Patel dismissed him for 43.

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Bhanuka Rajapaksa was batting with a lot of intent as well, and kept punishing the bad deliveries. Punjab seemed to be gaining the advantage before Mohammed Siraj took two wickets in two balls to bring the Bangalore-based franchise back in the game. This included the wickets of Rajapaksa and Raj Bawa. Liam Livingstone was quick to follow them as he had to return to the pavilion for 19.

However, Shahrukh Khan and Odean Smith took matters into their own hands as they unleashed their inner-beast. They took their side home with an over to spare. It was Smith who scored 25 off 8 balls in his Indian T20 League debut. As for Shahrukh, he showed when people rate him so highly. The fans were mighty impressed with Punjab as they took to Twitter to them. Some fans praised Faf as well.

Here are some of the Tweets about today's match:

What an upgraded middle order as compared to the last season PBKS

— Manas (@manas__3) March 27, 2022

What would you call that last shot that went for six from Odean Smith? #PBKSvRCB#IPL2022

— ESPNcricinfo (@ESPNcricinfo) March 27, 2022

Odean Smith 🔥 he's we'll and truly arrived in IPL!

— Anirudh (@OffDrive_) March 27, 2022

Faf will now realise what it means to captain RCB! 😅#PBKSvRCB#IPL2022

— Jay (@bhavsarJ2_0) March 27, 2022

This is a proper batting pitch! After a long time in the IPL we are seeing the runs flowing from everywhere.

— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) March 27, 2022

Yesterday was a snoozefest. Today has been a proper day of IPL cricket

— nathan (@paceandbounce_) March 27, 2022

It was RCB special. Faf Du Plessis, Virat Kohli and Dinesh Karthik, after a slow start, the trio has finished on a high in the last ten 10 overs. Total entertainment 🔥.

— Bhawana (@bhawnakohli5) March 27, 2022

Faf dk and vk 🔥

— Rabiaa 🇦🇺✨ (@moureen49) March 27, 2022

#RCB underutilizes Shahbaz Ahmed. He's can be a good AR #IPL2022

— 𝙋𝙧𝙖𝙩𝙮𝙪𝙨𝙝 (@ps26_11) March 27, 2022

Now this is where the real test begins, Livingstone, Shahrukh and Odean are all monsters, they are the strongest trio at the end in this IPL. We are missing Hazelwood but if these boys win it from this situation which is tougher to do than we are the best bowling attack.

— Mohit. (@mohitsharma13__) March 27, 2022