After powering Royal Challengers Bengaluru into their first IPL remaining since 2016 with an unbeaten 56 off simply 27 balls, Phil Salt provided a candid and composed post-match reflection. His whirlwind knock helped RCB cruise previous Punjab Kings’ modest 101-run complete in simply 10 overs, sealing an emphatic eight-wicket victory in Qualifier 1 at Mullanpur.
Salt, who smashed six fours and three sixes on a floor the place no different batter appeared in management, revealed a private subplot that drove his calculated aggression. “Don’t get out to Arshdeep — that was the only thing on my mind,” he mentioned with a smile. “We played two group games with PBKS and he’s got me out in different ways. Today, it was just about reacting to the ball.”
While many considered RCB’s disrupted journey schedule as a drawback, Salt framed it in a different way. “I told Andy (Flower) before the game, maybe the travel and breaks were a blessing in disguise. This win gives us momentum. It’s a cliché, but it’s what you want at the back end of a tournament.”Quiz: Who’s that IPL participant? Punjab Kings, making their first playoff look since 2014, suffered a brutal collapse after opting to bat. Their all-out 101 in simply 14.1 overs which is their lowest complete in an IPL playoff and was orchestrated by RCB’s relentless bowling unit. Josh Hazlewood (3/21), Suyash Sharma (3/17), and Yash Dayal (2/26) had been deadly with the ball. In response, Salt’s onslaught was ably supported by Rajat Patidar (15*) as RCB wrapped up the chase with 60 balls to spare, organising a title conflict in Ahmedabad on June 3.
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