IPL 2025: Suyash and Hazlewood Shine as RCB Crush PBKS to Reach Fourth Final

Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) produced a commanding bowling effort to demolish Punjab Kings (PBKS) for a paltry 101 runs in only 14.1 overs at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium on Thursday.

Both leg-spinner Suyash Sharma and pacer Josh Hazlewood recorded impressive three-wicket hauls apiece to set up RCB to comfortably chase down the target and earn a direct entry into the June 3 IPL final.

RCB dominated from the start. Suyash's shrewd leg-spin picked up 3 for 17, and Hazlewood's speed and accuracy collected 3 for 21, effectively dismounting the Punjab batting line-up.

PBKS fell early, losing Priyansh Arya inexpensively after a misplaced drive into the covers off Yash Dayal. Prabhsimran Singh attempted to calm the innings with forceful shots, hitting Dayal for a six and two successive boundaries off Bhuvneshwar Kumar. But Bhuvneshwar redeemed himself soon by bringing out a thin edge off Prabhsimran, which was glove-countered safely by the wicketkeeper.

The woes continued to accrue for Punjab as captain Shreyas Iyer was dismissed by Hazlewood's pace, edging a big hoick behind the wickets. The Australian pacer then dismissed Josh Inglis at deep fine-leg in the last over of powerplay, leaving PBKS at 48 for 4. A timely four and six from Marcus Stoinis stabilised the innings for some time.

But the slide was maintained by Nehal Wadhera and Yash Dayal knocking over his leg stump, while Shashank Singh got bowled through the gate off Suyash's googly. Substitute Musheer Khan was caught LBW by Suyash after only three balls and could not hit the leg spinner's sharp ball.

Stoinis tried to revive the innings but was undone by another googly from Suyash, who clean bowled him through the gate. The tailenders Azmatullah Omarzai and Kyle Jamieson struck some late runs, with Omarzai clearing the ropes twice and Jamieson contributing a boundary to take Punjab over 100. Hazlewood completed his three-wicket haul by getting Jitesh Sharma to take a magnificent diving catch.

Brief Scores:
Punjab Kings 101 all out in 14.1 overs (Marcus Stoinis 26, Prabhsimran Singh 18; Suyash Sharma 3-17, Josh Hazlewood 3-21) against Royal Challengers Bengaluru.