Mullanpur, May 29 -- Royal Challengers Bengaluru blazed past table-toppers Punjab Kings to punch their tickets to Ahmedabad for the final of the 18th season of the Indian Premier League (IPL) with a commanding 8-wicket triumph on Thursday.

After a spirited bowling display spearheaded by Josh Hazlewood and Suyash Sharma's three-wicket hauls, Bengaluru batters breathed fire to trounce Punjab by adopting an aggressive attacking policy. It was one-way traffic from the first over of the first innings, and the batters ensured it stayed the same in the second.

In defence of their trifling 101-run total, Punjab showed resistance as Kyle Jamieson turned the clock and rekindled the memory of the inaugural World Test Championship final. He extract...