Bengaluru reach 190-9 in IPL final against Punjab / Photo: © AFP
Bengaluru reach 190-9 in IPL final against Punjab
Royal Challengers Bengaluru posted 190-9 against Punjab Kings in the Indian Premier League final on Tuesday after opening batsman Virat Kohli topscored with 43.
Both the teams are hunting for their first title in the T20 tournament and thousands of Kohli fans filled the world's biggest cricket stadium in Ahmedabad, anticipating an IPL crown for their star batter.
The 132,000-capacity stadium was nearly packed with a sea of Bengaluru's red and Kohli's jersey number 18 dominating the stands as chants of "Kohli, Kohli" rang out.
Punjab skipper Shreyas Iyer won the toss and invited Bengaluru to bat first with the two teams unchanged from their previous victories.
Known as "King Kohli" for his prolific run-scoring, the opener was not at his best in the knock, which came in 35 balls and included just three fours.
He lost opening partner Phil Salt for 16 when New Zealand quick Kyle Jamieson struck in his first over to send the England batter out in the deep off a good catch by Iyer.
Kohli attempted to anchor the innings and take the attack to the opposition with Mayank Agarwal, who made 24, and then skipper Rajat Patidar, who hit 26.
But Punjab kept coming back with wickets as leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal got Agarwal and Jamieson trapped the captain lbw.
Kohli hung around for a bit but mistimed a rising delivery from Afghanistan pace bowler Azmatullah Omarzai for a caught and bowled. He looked nearly as disappointed as his fans.
Jamieson took his third wicket to cut short Liam Livingstone's knock of 25 off 15 balls.
Wickets kept tumbling as wicketkeeper-batsman Jitesh Sharma fell for a 10-ball 24 and Romario Shepherd for 17 off nine balls.
Left-arm quick Arshdeep Singh took three wickets including Shepherd in the 20th over and gave away just three runs.
Bengaluru had defeated Punjab in the first playoff to book their fourth final.
Punjab beat five-time champions Mumbai Indians in the last playoff to reach their second final and need 191 to win their first title.
The 18th edition of the world's richest cricket league is ending nine days late due to a pause because of the military conflict between India and Pakistan.
W.Baxter--TNT
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