It was a 170 kind of wicket: Mayank reflects on Punjab's poor batting

Punjab got to the worst start possible, with skipper Mayank Agarwal getting out for a five-ball one, as the score read 2-1 in the first over. While Banuka Rajapaksa’s explosive cameo, nine-ball 31, which also happens to be the fifth-best score after first nine balls in IPL history put an impetus to Punjab’s batting, it all faltered ever since. 

The middle-order, consisting of Liam Livingstone, Raj Angad Bawa, Shahrukh Khan and Harpreet Brar all did not contribute too much as the Kings were shot out for just 137 runs, on a surface where batting wasn’t as tough. In the post-match presentation, reflecting on the performance, skipper Mayank insisted that the conditions were rather a 170 kind of wicket. 

“We didn't bat well enough. We showed some real fight with the ball initially and then Dre Russ came in and got going. Credit to him for taking the game away from us like that. I think it was a 170ish wicket,” Mayank revealed in the post-match presentation.

With the ball, following a similar template as to their batting, Punjab started off well before fading away as Andre Russell stole the limelight, with a 31-ball 70, a knock where he smashed eight sixes. 

“We started off well but could not capitalize, there were a few soft dismissals. But it is fine as it is the start of the tournament. They (bowlers) pulled back nicely for us with 4 for 50 we were in the game, but Russell took the game away. There were a lot of positives to take away,” he concluded. 

After two games this season, Punjab find themselves seventh on the points table, with a win and a loss, with their next encounter against the four-time champions, Chennai Super Kings.