IPL 2023: Great to see Prabhsimran go from 40’s and 50’s to that magical 100-run mark, says Brett Lee

Prabhsimran’s 65-ball 103 helped PBKS keep their playoffs hopes alive after the 31-run victory over DC at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi on Saturday (May 13) night. On the other hand, the defeat for DC meant they can no longer progress to the playoffs.

Set a tricky target of 168 for victory on the back of a magnificent century by Prabhsimran, DC could muster only 136/8 in their 20 overs after PBKS spinners helped the team fight back after conceding 65 runs in powerplay.

DC openers David Warner (54 off 27 balls) and Phil Salt (21 off 17 balls) were separated with their team’s score on 69 in the seventh over, but it was only downhill for them from there onwards as the remaining batters added only 71 runs.

JioCinema TATA IPL expert Lee lauded Prabhsimran’s approach against the DC spinners on the wicket and congratulated the Punjab batter for reaching the three figure mark.

“He played beautifully. Didn’t he? In fact, he had six sixes tonight. He took on the bowling and swept very well against the spinners and had the opportunity to go down the wicket on a number of occasions,” Lee said.

“So, for me that’s the best way to play on this wicket. Great to see him go from the 40’s and 50’s up to that magical 100 mark so congratulations to him and also the Punjab Kings.”

Meanwhile, another JioCinema TATA IPL expert Parthiv Patel explained why Prabhsimran deserved his praise by taking for example the two sixes the Punjab opener hit in one over against Mitchell Marsh.

“He hit two sixes in just one over of Mitchell Marsh. We have seen him batting like this at the domestic level. But, to come to this stage and play such shots even under pressure, and that too on such a difficult wicket. That’s why he deserves praise,” Patel said.

For PBKS, feft-arm spinner Harpreet Brar was the wrecker-in-chief, taking 4/30 in four overs while the other spinner Rahul Chahar took 2/16 in his four overs. The duo pulled the game back for PBKS when the hosts seemed to be cruising towards the target.

Patel was all praise for Brar’s disciplined performance and his dismissal of DC skipper Warner, who was trapped LBW as well as Manish Pandey, who was clean bowled for a duck.

“The way he (Harpreet) started wasn’t great but if you watch all the balls after that: it’s hitting the stumps. Manish Pandey got bowled, David Warner was LBW,” Patel added.

“I think this is the most important point in this wicket, when the ball is low and turns even a little, then if you are bowling at the stumps you have more chances of getting wickets. And if it turns even a little, there is also a chance of getting an LBW.”