Phil Salt Blasts Quickest IPL Fifty As RCB Storm Into 2025 Remaining With Crushing Win Over PBKS
In a dramatic flip of occasions through the IPL 2025 Qualifier 1, the Punjab Kings (PBKS) suffered a crushing defeat by the hands of the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB).
Phil Salt delivered a fiery unbeaten 56 off simply 27 balls, his quickest half-century within the Indian Premier League, to energy Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) to a dominant eight-wicket win over Punjab Kings (PBKS) in Qualifier 1 of IPL 2025. The match, held on the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh Worldwide Cricket Stadium on Thursday, noticed RCB breeze into the finals with 10 overs to spare.
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By grit, grind, and a few superb cricket, we’re into the large one! pic.twitter.com/HkidnNOJIY
— Royal Challengers Bengaluru (@RCBTweets) Could 29, 2025
Earlier, RCB’s bowling unit dismantled a star-studded PBKS batting lineup, skittling them out for a mere 101 in 14.1 overs. Suyash Sharma and Josh Hazlewood each starred with three wickets apiece, making use of relentless stress proper from the beginning.
Chasing a modest goal of 102, RCB opened aggressively. Virat Kohli regarded sharp early on with boundaries off Arshdeep Singh and Kyle Jamieson however was dismissed for a low rating within the fourth over, edging a back-of-a-length supply from Jamieson. Mayank Agarwal confronted a testing spell with the ball transferring round, surviving a evaluate scare earlier than settling in.
Salt took cost from the opposite finish, counter-attacking with crisp strokes and aggressive intent. He cracked fours and sixes off Arshdeep, Omarzai, and Jamieson, main RCB to 61/1 on the finish of the powerplay. His 23-ball fifty was highlighted by clear hitting and fearless stroke-play, together with a towering six off Harpreet Brar and a flurry of boundaries via the covers and midwicket.
Although Agarwal departed after a 54-run stand, Salt continued to dominate, and captain Rajat Patidar joined him to complete the job. Patidar sealed the win with a robust slog-sweep, wrapping up the chase at 106/2 in simply 10 overs.
With this emphatic win, RCB have booked their place of their fourth IPL remaining, set for June 3 on the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. PBKS, in the meantime, will get one other alternative to achieve the ultimate after they play Qualifier 2 towards the Eliminator winner on the identical venue on Sunday.
