PBKS Defends Lowest IPL Total Ever, Agitates Chahal with Barton’s Blunder

In a nail-biting encounter that will be etched in IPL history, Punjab Kings (PBKS) scripted an upset by defending the lowest total ever in the tournament against defending champions Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR). With a target of just 131 runs on the board, PBKS held their nerves to restrict KKR to 95 runs, thanks to a masterclass by leggie Yuzvendra Chahal and a bizarre fielding mistake by Xavier Bartlett that left Chahal agitated.

Chahal’s Heroics and Bartlett’s howler

Chahal turned the game on its head with exceptional bowling figures of 4/28, picking up wickets at crucial junctures. KKR, however, managed to put up a fight through Andre Russell’s quickfire knock but fell short by 16 runs in the end.

Bartlett’s howler in the 8th over proved to be a crucial turning point in the game. A comfortable catch at long leg turned into a fielding blunder as Bartlett threw the ball backwards for a boundary, allowing KKR to add five extra runs to their total. Chahal seemed visibly frustrated with the incident.

KKR’s Chase Derails After Bartlett’s Mistake

KKR’s momentum took a hit after Bartlett’s howler, and they couldn’t recover despite Russell’s best efforts. Chahal spun a web around KKR’s batsmen, picking up three more wickets that derailed their chase for good.

“It was a team effort – Chahal

I think it was a team effort. We wanted to stay positive, take 2-3 wickets in the powerplay. The pitch wasn’t easy. There was turn in the pitch as well.
Yuzvendra Chahal

Teams’ Standings

With this victory, PBKS moved up to the fourth spot in the IPL points table with four wins and two losses, while KKR slipped to the sixth spot with three wins and four losses.

Did you know?

• The lowest total previously defended in the IPL was 143 by Delhi Daredevils (now Delhi Capitals) against Royal Challengers Bangalore in 2017.
• Yuzvendra Chahal now has the best bowling figures against KKR in the IPL (4/28).

Pro tip for cricketers:

Always ensure your throwing arm is relaxed and your eyes are on the target when attempting to throw the ball back to the keeper. Tension and lack of focus can lead to costly errors.

Engage with us

Let us know your thoughts on this thriller of a match in the comments below! How crucial was Bartlett’s blunder, and did you expect Chahal to turn the game around for PBKS?