Royal Challengers Bangalore players after sealing a Play Offs berth in IPL 2021 on Sunday at Sharjah Stadium. Image Courtesy: BCCI/IPL

Xtra Time Web Desk: Royal Challengers Bangalore beat Punjab Kings by six runs at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium to qualify for the IPL 2021 Play Offs on Sunday. Glenn Maxwell smashed 57 runs while Yuzvendra Chahal spun a web around Punjab Kings batters to clinch a convincing win.  

Maxwell’s 34-ball-57 propelled Punjab Kings to 164 for 7 which is the highest team total in Sharjah this season and then Chahal owned the middle-overs with another game-changing spell of 3/29 which saw KL Rahul’s team finish at 158 for 6.

With 16 points from 12 games, RCB thus became the third team after Chennai Super Kings and Delhi Capitals to make it to the last four stage.Punjab Kings with 10 points from 13 games can reach 12 points but with a net run-rate of -0.241 and having played one match more than Rajasthan Royals (10 points), Mumbai Indians (10 points) and KKR (10 points before evening game), they are all but out of the competition.

It was another close match that Punjab Kings couldn’t finish off and their skipper Rahul needs to take a lot of responsibility as his 39 off 35 balls did more damage than help his team’s cause.

Punjab were 91 for no loss in the 11th over before Rahul’s indiscreet shot selection trying to hit left-arm spinner Sahbaz Ahmed against turn changed the course of the match. His opening partner Mayank Agarwal (57 off 42 balls) was more attacking but was fooled by Chahal’s clever variation of pace as he top edged a sweep shot.

PBKS needed 27 runs from the last two overs and Mohammed Siraj (0/33 in 4 overs) bowled an impressive penultimate over to bring down the equation to 19 runs off the final over and Harshal Patel (0/27 in 4 overs) defended well by taking the pace off his deliveries.

Earlier, Maxwell’s six-hitting prowess was on display as his 33-ball 57 propelled Royal Challengers Bangalore to a challenging 164 for 7.