Ponting’s Kings defend 111 against KKR in record IPL win

Punjab Kings pulled off an unlikely victory against Kolkata Knight Riders on Wednesday morning (AEST) in Mullanpur, setting a new IPL record for the lowest total ever defended.

Heading into the match as $1.88 favourites across T20 betting apps, PBKS began well through Priyansh Arya (22 from 12) and Prabhsimran Singh (30 from 15).

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However, after reaching 0/39 from just 3.1 overs, things began to turn pear-shaped for the hosts as a trio of wickets came in the next 10 balls.

With Arya, Shreyas Iyer (0 from 2) and Josh Inglis (2 from 6) all back in the sheds, Prabhsimran briefly rebuilt alongside Nehal Wadhera (10 from 9).

But the resistance was short-lived and wickets continued to flow, with only two other Punjab batsmen making double figures as they were dismissed for 111 in the 16th over.

Live cricket betting odds sat overwhelmingly in KKR’s favour at the halfway point of the match, giving the visitors a chance to go top of the IPL ladder on net run-rate.

What followed was a brilliant display of fighting spirit from PBKS, who overcame a strong start to bundle KKR out for just 95 runs.

While two wickets fell inside the opening eight balls, Ajinkya Rahane (17 from 17) and Angkrish Raghuvanshi (37 from 28) batted KKR into a dominant position midway through the chase as the pair put on 55 runs for the third wicket.

With just 50 runs required and eight wickets in hand, KKR were cruising; that is, until Yuzvendra Chahal (4/28) struck.

The wily spinner snaffled both set batsmen to leave Kolkata at 4/72 with two new players at the crease.

That rapidly became 8/79 as Venkatesh Iyer (7 from 4), Rinku Singh (2 from 9), Ramandeep Singh (0 from 1) and Harshit Rana (3 from 6) all gave up their wickets.

Andre Russell (17 from 11) remained KKR’s one hope, and while the big-hitting Jamaican did manage to send two over the ropes, Marco Jansen (3/17) nicked his stumps in the 16th over to seal the historic 16-run victory for Punjab.

“I couldn’t have been prouder of us in the second half,” PBKS coach Ricky Ponting said after the match.

“The batting was poor, but I thought this was a season-defining moment.

“I reckon at the halfway mark there weren’t too many people around the world who would have defended that.

“That might just be about the best win I’ve ever had as coach.”

As a result of the win, PBKS improve to the third line of betting at $6.50 to win the 2025 IPL title across cricket bookmakers.

KKR, meanwhile, slip to seventh in the outright winner market, paying $12 at Picklebet.

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