IPL 2022: 3 Most Memorable Encounters Of The Season For Punjab Kings (PBKS)

Punjab Kings finished sixth on the points table with seven wins in 14 games and failed to qualify in the top four for the eighth time on the trot.

Punjab Kings didn’t had clarity about their best Playing XI until the business end of the tournament. Jonny Bairstow was promoted to open the innings in the last few games of the group stage.

Out of form skipper, Mayank Agarwal demoted his batting order slot in the middle but that couldn’t produce any results.

Kagiso Rabada picked 23 wickets in 13 games to finish as the highest wicket-taker of the team and overall third in the tournament.

Let us look at the top three matches Punjab Kings played in IPL 2022.

IPL 2022: 3 Most Memorable Encounters Of The Season For Punjab Kings (PBKS)

1. PBKS vs RCB (March 27, Navi Mumbai)

Punjab Kings started their IPL 2022 campaign on a high note, chasing 206 against RCB with six balls to spare.

West Indies all-rounder Odean Smith provided the finishing touches to Punjab Kings in their fabulous paced chase of 206 with a blitz 8-ball 25.

Smith was supported by Tamil Nadu batter Shahrukh Khan who landed a six and a boundary to Harshal Patel in the penultimate over to take his side past the finishing line.

Earlier in the innings, Mayank and opener Shikhar Dhawan (43) stitched an alliance of 71 runs for the opening wicket before the former departed to Wanindu Hasaranga in the eighth over.

Sri Lanka wicketkeeper-batter Bhanuka Rajapaksa continued the flowing of runs and added 47 runs with Dhawan for the second wicket.

2. PBKS vs CSK (April 25, Mumbai)

Opener Shikhar Dhawan’s splendorous unbeaten 59-ball 88, laced with nine fours and a couple of sixes, propelled the team to a respectable total of 187/4.

Despite bringing CSK down to 40/3 in seven overs, PBKS had to face the vigour of Ambati Rayudu in the middle.

Rayudu’s splendid display of shot-making threatened Punjab bowlers with their third defeat in a row. The veteran batter hit seven boundaries and six sixes in his marvellous 39-ball 78, striking at 200. A toe-crushing yorker from Kagiso Rabada put a halt on Rayudu’s counterattack in the 18th over.

Left-arm pacer Arshdeep conceded five and eight runs in the 17th and 19th overs to put the pressure back on CSK.

Rishi Dhawan was left with 27 runs to defend in the last over, the Himachal Pradesh captain was welcomed with a pull by MS Dhoni, that was dispatched over deep square leg for a six on the first ball.

Rishi followed with a wide delivery before dismissing MSD on the third delivery as PBKS completed a comprehensive win.

3. GT vs PBKS (May 3, Navi Mumbai)

Kagiso Rabada’s 4-33 and some tight bowling from Sandeep Sharma (0/17 from four overs) were some key factors for PBKS in restricting GT to a below-par 143.

Liam Livingstone blasted 30 runs off 10 balls to power PBKS to an eight-wicket win in just 16 overs. PBKS captain Mayank Agarwal promoted the England power-hitter ahead of him to bat.

The move reaped rewards as Livingstone hammered Mohammed Shami for sixes in the 16th over, one of which was recorded for 117m, before he smashed a couple of boundaries to wrap the chase and boost the team’s NRR.

Earlier in the chase, Shikhar Dhawan (62*) and Bhanuka Rajapaksa struck a range of shots to continuously fetch boundaries in the 87-run stand.