Virat Kohli’s 100th T20 half-century set the platform as RCB got off the mark with a four-wicket win over Punjab Kings at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium on Monday night. Having restricted PBKS to 176/8 in their 20 overs, Kohli made the most of an early reprieve when he was yet to open his account, set up the chase while Dinesh Karthik provided the finishing touches at death to help RCB over the line with four balls to spare.

Despite Dhawan playing a couple of lovely aerial drives, RCB managed to keep a lid on Punjab’s scoring all through the PowerPlay. Yash Dayal got the ball to swing early in a tight new-ball spell, and Siraj accounted for Jonny Bairstow’s wicket. After a couple of pitched-up deliveries that the English opener dispatched to the on-side fence, Siraj pulled his length back and Bairstow miscued his pull in the covers region. Prabhsimram Singh’s positive start set the base for a steady second-wicket stand to follow but RCB were the happier side at the end of the powerplay with only 40/1 on the board.

Maxwell, after the time-out, was welcomed with a boundary by Dhawan and smashed for a six to deep backward square by Prabhsimran but the allrounder managed to cut short the latter’s entertaining knock on 25. It was the extra bounce that did him in as Prabhsimran looked to pull but instead top-edged. Maxwell was in for some more punishment with Liam Livingstone pulling a short ball for four and even managing to clear the ropes despite mistiming his slog-sweep. However, Maxwell began his third over of the middle-overs spell with the key wicket of Dhawan, getting the ball to spin away as the batter gave the charge. This was one ball after Alzarri Joseph made a good comeback from a 10-run opening over to end the Livingstone threat on 17. As RCB continued to chip away, Punjab managed just 71 runs for 3 wickets in the middle-overs period.

Jitesh Sharma drove the half-century partnership with Sam Curran, the highlight of which was the back-to-back sixes off Mayank Dagar in an expensive 17-run over. However, miserly 17th and 19th overs from Joseph and Siraj respectively managed to keep Punjab under the lid for most of the death overs as well. Their 170-plus total was only possible due to a Shashank Sngh blinder in the final over from Joseph that went for 20. The Punjab batter made an excellent first impression in his 8-ball 21, hammering a couple of maximums off a flick and a hook and following it up with a four more.

It was the second ball of RCB’s chase and Kohli was yet to get off the mark when Bairstow failed to hold on to a regulation take at first slip. That drop cost RCB 77 runs starting with the four off the same delivery as the ball raced to the third region. Kohli dealt in boundaries – driving Curran through the covers twice more in the opening over, gave the charge to Rabada for a gorgeous lofted drive and picking three more in Arshdeep Singh’s second over. In just the four overs, Kohli had eight of them to his name, giving RCB control even as Kagiso Rabada removed compatriot Faf du Plessis and Cameron Green for three each. The fifty – 100th in T20 cricket – came off just 31 balls, and Kohli kept bringing out the release shots every time as Punjab managed to pull things back a little. The inside-out six off Chahar after a couple of miserly overs and the pull to welcome Harshal Patel back in the attack helped RCB move on after Harpreet Brar cleaned up Rajat Patidar and sent back Maxwell cheaply. He moved into the 70s with back-to-back fours off Harshal – a full toss down leg and a short one outside off – but the bowler had the last laugh as Punjab sensed an opening.

The seventh-wicket pair both began with boundaries off Curran to catch up with the asking rate. Lomror went after Arshdeep with a six down the ground and a short ball pulled to the fence next in a 13-run over, while Harshal came in the firing line next as Karthik did the same in the penultimate over that also went for 13. With 10 to get off the final over, the experienced finisher polished off the chase in just two balls – a premeditated scoop for a first-ball six followed by a four hammered down straight past the bowler to help RCB collect their first points.

What’s next for them:
Bangalore will host KKR next at home on Friday, whereas Punjab heads back north, to Lucknow, for their second away game on the trot.

Brief scores:
Punjab Kings 176/6 in 20 overs (Shikhar Dhawan 46; Mohd. Siraj 2-26, Glenn Maxwell 2-29) lost to Royal Challengers Bangalore 178/6 in 19.2 overs (Virat Kohli 77, Dinesh Karthik 28*; Harpreet Brar 2-13, Kagiso Rabada 2-23) by 4 wickets

(Cricbuzz)