In an action-packed low-scoring encounter in IPL 2025, Punjab Kings mounted a dramatic 16-run win over Kolkata Knight Riders, courtesy of brilliant performances from Yuzvendra Chahal and Marco Jansen.
Chahal took career-best tournament figures of 4-28, and Jansen claimed three wickets to assist in defending the lowest total in IPL history.
In the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium on Tuesday, Punjab Kings were bowled out for only 111 in 15.3 overs. Harshit Rana was the star bowler for KKR, taking 3 wickets for 25 runs. Varun Chakaravarthy and Sunil Narine also chipped in with two wickets each, limiting Punjab's batting line-up.
In response, Kolkata Knight Riders' pursuit began on shaky ground as both openers—Sunil Narine (5) and Quinton de Kock (2)—fell early. Marco Jansen and debutant Xavier Bartlett snapped up wickets in quick succession to leave KKR on the back foot. Though captain Ajinkya Rahane and Angkrish Raghuvanshi rallied with a 60-run stand, Punjab staged a comeback strongly with Chahal's crucial wickets. Chahal got rid of Rahane (17) and Raghuvanshi (37), leaving KKR under huge pressure.
KKR middle-order failed as they couldn't handle Punjab spinners. Venkatesh Iyer (7), Rinku Singh (2), and Ramandeep Singh (0) got out cheaply. In spite of a late flourish from Andre Russell, who made 17, Jansen took the vital wicket to secure victory for Punjab.
Punjab got off to a flying start previously, with Prabhsimran Singh and Priyansh Arya confronting KKR's pacers during the powerplay. Arya scored two fours off Anrich Nortje, asserting himself in the initial overs. But KKR fought back through Rana and the spin partnership of Chakaravarthy and Narine, limiting Punjab to 86/8 after 11 overs. Shashank Singh's 18 runs were the sole other resistance before Punjab were dismissed for 111.
At last, Punjab Kings defended their modest total well, with Chahal and Jansen being the star performers in a win to remember.
Brief scores:
Punjab Kings: 111/10 in 15.3 overs (Prabhsimran Singh 30, Priyanash Arya 22; Harshit Rana 3-25, Varun Chakaravarthy 2-21, Sunil Narine 2-14)
Kolkata Knight Riders: 95/10 in 15.1 overs (Angkrish Raghuvanshi 37, Andre Russell 17; Yuzvendra Chahal 4-28, Marco Jansen 3-17)
Punjab Kings won by 16 runs.
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