Rajapaksa shines as Punjab Kings get back to winning ways

Indian Premier League 2022

646
Bhanuka Rajapaksa

Punjab Kings beat Chennai Super Kings by 11 runs in the 38th match of Indian Premier League which was worked off today (25th April) at Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.

Chennai Super Kings won the toss and opted to bowl first as Mayank Agarwal and Shikhar Dhawan opened the batting for Punjab Kings. The duo added 37 runs for the opening wicket as skipper Agarwal was dismissed by Sri Lankan off spinner Maheesh Theeskhana for 18 runs in the 6th over.

Sri Lankan southpaw Bhanuka Rajapaksa, who is returning to the Punjab Kings side having missed the previous 4 games, batted at number 3 for Kings and made a impressive comeback, scoring 42 runs off 32 balls with 2 fours and 2 sixes at a strike rate of 131.25.

Rajapaksa and Dhawan built a 110-run partnership for the 2nd wicket as Punjab Kings posted 187 runs for 4 wickets in the allotted 20 overs. Dhawan top scored for Punjab Kings with magnificent knock of 88 runs off 59 balls with 9 fours and 2 sixes.

In reply, Chennai Super Kings posted 176 runs for 6 wickets handing a 11-run victory to Punjab Kings. Ambati Rayudu’s valiant knock of 78 runs went in vain for Chennai Super Kings.

Brief Scores

Punjab Kings – 187/4 (20) S Dhawan 88*, B Rajapaksa 42, D Bravo 2/42

Chennai Super Kings – 176/6 (20) A Rayudu 78, R Gaikwad 30, K Rabada 2/23

Result – Punjab Kings won by 11 runs