IPL 2020, KXIP vs RCB: Skipper Rahul's Blazing Ton Helps Kings Eleven Punjab Register Massive 97-Run Win

KXIP's thumping victory came on the back of a record breaking ton by their skipper KL Rahul and a stellar all-round bowling display by their bowlers.

KL Rahul (Image: PTI)

Kings Eleven Punjab (KXIP) registered their maiden win in season thirteen of the Indian Premier League as they trounced Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) by a massive 97 run margin at Dubai on Friday. KXIP's thumping victory came at the back of a record breaking ton by their skipper KL Rahul and a combined bowling effort by their bowlers. Kings skipper KL Rahul led from the front in his team's massive win as he scored an unbeaten 132 to help his team post a daunting 206-run total. Rahul was assisted well by Mayank Agarwal who opened the batting with him as the duo helped Punjab get off to a flying start in the initial 6-over powerplay. After leg spinner Yuzvendra Chahal scalped Mayank Agarwal, Rahul stitched a 57-run partnership with Nicholas Pooran to build a strong foundation of KXIP. Once Nicholas Pooran was dismissed by Shivam Dube for 17 and Glen Maxwell got out cheaply yet again for 5, Rahul broke lose and belted the RCB bowlers to all corners of the park and bring up his second century in the IPL. He went onto score a blazing 132-run knock and registered the highest score by an Indian in the IPL. Chasing a herculean 207-run target, RCB got off to a terrible start as they lost in-form opener Devdutt Padikkal to seamer Sheldon Cottrell in the very first over. Mohammad Shami then struck to send wicket keeper batsman Josh Philippe back to the pavilion for a duck. The Royal Challengers were dealt a massive blow when skipper Virat Kohli fell to Sheldon Cottrell for just 1. There was some brief resistance by AB De Villiers and Aaron Finch but it did not last long with spinners Ravi Bishnoi and Murugan Ashwin picking up their priced wickets. RCB could never rebuild their innings as the KXIP spinners kept chipping in with wickets . Leg spinner Ravi Bishnoi and Murugan Ashwin combined well to run through the middle order by picking three wickets each. RCB eventually folded out for merely 109. The 97-run win also helped Punjab leapfrog Mumbai Indians at the top of the points table with a superior rate rate.