In the history of IPL, most of the matches between Punjab Kings and Rajasthan Royals have been close ones, absolutely nail-biters and the Saturday showdown in Mullanpur, Mohali was no different. RR skipper Sanju Samson won the toss and decided to bowl first. It started off with Rajasthan dominating with the ball, packing Punjab for just 147/8 in 20 overs.

The chase was pretty steady with RR losing no quick wickets in powerplay. But from the first wicket Tanush Kotian in the ninth over to Keshav Maharaj in the 19th over, Punjab bowlers kept the team in the hunt. In the last over, RR needed 10 runs. PBKS stand-in captain Sam Curran sent Arshdeep to defend those ten runs.

But on the strike was RR’s most-trusted finisher Shimron Hetmyer. He smashed 27 runs at the strike rate of 270. Those two mega maximums in the last over sealed the deal for RR and the visitors scored a 3-wicket win over PBKS in the match 27 of Tata IPL 2024. With this thrilling win, RR have maintained their numero uno rankings in the IPL points table.   

Rajasthan Royals

  • Yashasvi Jaiswal c Harshal Patel b Rabada 39
  • Tanush Kotian b Livingstone 24
  • Sanju Samson lbw b Rabada 18
  • Riyan Parag c Rabada b Arshdeep Singh 23
  • Dhruv Jurel c Shashank Singh b Harshal Patel 6
  • Shimron Hetmyer not out 27
  • Rovman Powell c Jitesh Sharma b Sam Curran 11
  • Keshav Maharaj c Livingstone b Sam Curran 1
  • Trent Boult not out 0
  • Extras: (w-3) 3
  • Total: 152/7 in 19.5 overs
  • Fall of wickets: 56-1, 82-2, 89-3, 113-4, 115-5, 136-6, 138-7 Bowling: Arshdeep Singh 3.5-0-45-1, Kagiso Rabada 4-0-18-2, Sam Curran 4-0-25-2, Liam Livingstone 3-0-21-1, Harshal Patel 2-0-21-1, Harpreet Brar 3-0-22-0.

Punjab Kings

  • Atharva Taide c Kuldeep Sen b Avesh Khan 15
  • Jonny Bairstow c Hetmyer b Maharaj 15
  • Prabhsimran Singh c Dhruv Jurel b Chahal 10
  • Sam Curran c Dhruv Jurel b Maharaj 6
  • Jitesh Sharma c Riyan Parag b Avesh Khan 29
  • Shashank Singh c Dhruv Jurel b Kuldeep Sen 9
  • Liam Livingstone run out 21
  • Ashutosh Sharma c Maharaj b Boult 31
  • Harpreet Brar not out 3
  • Extras: (lb-2, w-5, nb-1) 8
  • Total: 147/8 in 20 overs
  • Fall of wickets: 27-1, 41-2, 47-3, 52-4, 70-5, 103-6, 122-7, 147-8 Bowling: Trent Boult 4-0-22-1, Kuldeep Sen 4-0-35-1, Avesh Khan 4-0-34-2, Yuzvendra Chahal 4-0-31-1, Keshav Maharaj 4-0-23-2.

(With PTI inputs)