Half-centuries for both of the England batters helped PKS overcome Royal Challengers Bangalore to them within striking distance of the top-four
Mumbai: Punjab Kings 209-9, Royal Challengers Bangalore 155-9 - Punjab Kings won by 54 runs
Punjab Kings remain in Indian Premier League playoff contention after beating Royal Challengers Bangalore, whose own top-four ambitions were handed a blow in Mumbai.
Jonny Bairstow struck a rapid 66 from 29 balls, smashing seven sixes and a quartet of fours.
Liam Livingstone top-scored with 70 while Shikhar Dhawan (21) and Mayank Agarwal (19) helped PKS reach 209 for 9 in 20 overs.
Josh Hazelwood took a heap of punishment, being dispatched for 64 from four wicketless overs, while Shahbaz Ahmed claimed 1 for 40.
Harshal Patel was the pick of the bowlers, claiming 4 for 34, including three from the 20th over.
But RCB were unable to take that late charge into the chase.
They were reduced to 41 for 3 inside five overs, losing Virat Kohli (20), Faf du Plessis (10) and Mahipal Lomror (6).
(BCCI)
Glenn Maxwell struck 35 but frugal bowling from Kagiso Rabada (3 for 27), Rahul Chahar (2 for 37) and Arshdeep Singh (1 for 27) kept the scoring rate down and ensured the RCB chase, which ended on 155 for 9, ended before it barely begun.
The outcome leaves RCB fourth in the table with a single game remaining and just a two-point buffer over fifth-place Delhi Capitals.
PKS sit in sixth, level with the Capitals on 12 points, while Sunrisers Hyderabad are two points further back, but have at least one game in hand over all those above them.
"We were very good with the bat," said captain Agarwal. "I thought we were brilliant. The wicket was holding up a bit. The way Jonny and Livi batted was simply amazing.
"We haven't changed a lot to be really honest. It's just about understanding the situations and understanding the wicket. If a wicket doesn't allow us to get 200, we can't go out and play that kind of cricket.
"So we have to be adaptable and flexible, which we have been. It can get a little tough for a captain to do that, but we can't be too defensive with the ball."
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