New Chandigarh, April 16 (NationPress) The Punjab Kings achieved an unprecedented victory in the current season of the Indian Premier League (IPL), securing a 16-run triumph against the Kolkata Knight Riders at the New PCA Stadium in Mullanpur, New Chandigarh on Tuesday. This win marked the defense of the lowest total in IPL history.

Facing a target of 112, the Punjab bowlers were under pressure to take wickets. Leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal was pivotal, capturing four essential wickets that dismantled the KKR batting lineup and led his team to victory.

Post-match, Ponting commended Chahal during a conversation in the dressing room. "I want to commend all the bowlers who were exceptional. But the little bloke sitting down here (pointing at Chahal) was remarkable," he stated.

"We had challenged you a bit over the week to return to your style of bowling. What did you do tonight? You bowled like yourself, and that won us the game," Ponting continued.

In discussing the outcome, Chahal acknowledged the team effort behind the victory. "It’s a collective effort. We aimed to stay positive, and we believed that if we claimed 2-3 wickets early on, it would be beneficial. In the previous match, I conceded 56 runs in 4 overs, but I had complete faith in my abilities," he explained.

"I always focus on how to dismiss the batters. I varied my pace, ensuring that if they wanted to hit, they would have to work hard for it. Winning such a match boosts team morale. This is my first man of the match award for Punjab, and I believe that if I continue to trust my skills and have confidence in myself, success will follow," he added.

After opting to bat, Punjab's batting lineup struggled and was bowled out for 111. However, with the support of a packed stadium in New Chandigarh, the Kings fought fiercely to clinch the win. With the electrifying home crowd rallying for the Kings, Punjab bowlers restricted the opposition to just 95 runs, achieving a spectacular victory.

Ponting also lauded left-arm pacers Marco Jansen (3-17) and Arshdeep Singh (1-11), who played significant roles in the bowling attack.

"Arshdeep, you typically handle the new ball. But your attitude of accepting the situation was commendable. When the opportunity arose, you stepped up as the leader of the attack and contributed significantly for the team tonight. That speaks volumes about you. That’s what we expect from the entire team, right? It won’t always go as planned," Ponting remarked.

"The way we initiated the bowling, led by Marco, was outstanding. I mentioned in the bowlers' meeting today that Marco had dismissed Sunil Narine twice in five balls prior to this match. So, I spoke with the captain at the break, and he wanted Marco to bowl the first over to target Narine, and the strategy proved effective. It shows that with some intent and a never-give-up attitude, we can stay competitive," he concluded.

With four wins out of six matches, Punjab is currently in fourth place on the leaderboard. With much of the tournament still ahead, Ponting urged his team to maintain focus.

"Let’s not get overly excited about tonight’s achievement. We’ve set a benchmark for ourselves in terms of belief and understanding what it takes for teams to beat us, as well as what it takes for us to win challenging games," he wrapped up.