Title: Punjab record their first win in IPL II, Ravi Bopara leads

Desc:

Punjab Kings XI posted their first victory afer being defeated for two back to back matches. Ravi Bopara, the all-rounder from England, produced an amazing 84 runs off just 59 deliveries.

Royal Challengers had dropped the pace bowler, Dale Steyn & included Ross Taylor in his place. Earlier the challengers won the toss & chose to bat.

Punjab were set a target of 168 by the Bangalore Royal Challengers. 168 isn't a low score by any means. The Royal challengers did well overall, but they lost their way once Jacques Kallis was dismissed for 62 in the 17th over.

Bangalore lost Robin Uthappa for a duck in the second over of the innings. After that, the challengers recovered well & went on to post over 40 runs by end of 4 overs. After that, Punjab came right back into the game by dismissing Jesse Ryder, and later Kevin Peitersen for a duck. This was the second duck for the English batsman. Jacques Kallis was the only one who stayed till the 17th over & helped the Challengers to a respectable total

Yusuf Abdulla took four wickets for just 31 runs & Irfan Pathan took three wickets for 35 runs.

Punjab started their innings rather quietly. They lost Karan Goel to a run-out. After that, Kumara Sangakkara & Ravi Bopara held on & took the Punjab innings to a healthy 91 for 1 in 12 overs. Anil Kumble then struck by dismissing Kumara Sangakkara who made 28 of 16 deliveries.

It was after this that Bopara opened up & started hitting the Bangalore bowlers all around. A massive 19 runs were scored off the 16th over.

Punjab needed 28 runs off the last 3 overs. Bopara released the pressure by hitting 2 sixes off Jesse Ryder. He later got out to Kallis.

Ravi Bopara was declared Man of the match. Despite a quiet start, he stood their & later steered Punjab Kings XI to their first win of the DLF IPL Season II.

Read more news