Royal Challengers Bengaluru will destroy the Punjab Kings with an eight-wicket victory to reach the first IPL final since 2016.
Virat Kohli approached the Maiden Indian Premier League title after Royal Challengers Bengaluru thrashed the Punjab King with eight wickets to reach the final of the 10-team tournament.
With the latest performance by the bowlers in Thursday’s match, Bengaluru only needed 102 people for Sunday’s final.
Punjab can still make the final if they can win a second qualifier against the winner of the Eliminator on Friday between the Mumbai Indians and the Gujarat Titans.
Kohli made 12, but was Bengaluru’s main goals scorer this season.
The former Indian captain has been in the franchise since the 2008 league edition. Bengaluru reached the finals in 2009, 2011 and 2016, but was beaten in all three times.
“I feel great right now,” Salt said. “Obviously we had a second bite with Cherry, and it feels really good to be out of the way for the first time.
“It gives us that momentum. It’s that cliché, but it’s very true in the backend of the tournament.”
Bengaluru looked horrible this season, and
Once selected for the field, their fiery pace attack led by returning Josh Hazlewood led Punjab in 14.1 overs.
Hezlewood recovered from a shoulder yoke and led Bengaluru’s excellent pace display as he reduced Punjab to 71-7 in half the innings.
Hazlewood (3-21) victims included rival skipper Shrayas Iyer, but Bhuvneshwar Kumar claimed the key wickets of Prabhsimran Singh, the main goal scorer in Punjab this season.
Marcus Stonis made 26 and then lost the stump to leg spinner Suyash Sharma.
Kyle Jamieson removed Kohli for the fourth time, but Bengaluru raced 61-1 at 61-1 compared to Punjab’s 48-4, with salt hitting the boundary almost freely.
Salt took 23 balls and 50 Rajat Patidar hit a six, sealing Bengaluru’s victory in a match that continued with just 24.1 overs.
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