Picture : BCCI
A timely cameo and a calm presence at the end by Shimron Hetmyer helped Rajasthan Royals beat Punjab Kings by 3- wickets in a Tata IPL 2024 encounter in Mullanpur, Mohali.
Rajasthan Royals Skipper Sanju Samson won the toss and asked Punjab Kings to bat first. Punjab were without regular skipper Shikhar Dhawan as Sam Curran Led the side . Punjab Kings did not begin well with opener Atharva Taide out for ( 15), Jonny Bairstow still searching for big one fell for (19), Prabhsimran Singh ( 10). Skipper Sam Curran ( 6) . The Kings were on the back-foot with regular wickets.
Jitesh Sharma 29 ( 24 balls , 1 four, 2 sixes) along with impact player Ashutosh Sharma 31 ( 16 balls, 1 four, 3 sixes) rallied the innings. Liam Livingstone looked dangerous but was out run-out for 21 . Shashank Singh was out for 9 . Kings battled to reach 147/ 8 in their 20 overs .
RR bowling was spot on : Trent Bout 1/ 22 ( 4 overs), Kuldeep Sen 1/ 35 ( 4 overs), Avesh Khan 2/ 34 ( 4 overs), Yuzvendra Chahal 1/ 31 ( 4 overs), Keshav Maharaj was impressive 2/ 23 ( 4 overs)
In reply Rajasthan Royals, Yashasvi Jaiswal scored 39 ( 28 balls , 4 fours ) took the charge in the absence of Jos Buttler . His fellow opener Tanush Kotian chipped in with ( 24) . The duo put on 56-1, 8.2 in overs. Skipper Sanju Samson fell for ( 18), Riyan Parag was out for ( 23). Dhruv Jurel fell for ( 6). Royals were in a spot of bother . Adding to their woes were the dismissals of Rovman Powell ( 11) , Keshav Maharaj ( 1).
Royals needed 10 off the last over bowled by Arshdeep Singh with Shimron Hetmyer in the middle . Hetmyer kept his cool and nerve as he clinched a thriller for his side with a timely cameo of unbeaten 27 ( 10, balls, 1 four, 3 sixes) . Trent Boult was the other not out batsman. Royals reaching 152/ 7 in 19. 5 overs. Punjab fought till the end. Battling let them down target around 160- 170 would have been enough.
Punjab Bowling read : Arshdeep Singh 1/ 45 ( 3. 5 overs), Kagiso Rabada 2/ 19 ( 4 overs), Sam Curran 2/ 25 (4 overs), Harshal Patel 1/ 29 ( 3 overs), Liam Livingstone 1/ 21 ( 3 overs), Harpreet Brar 0/ 14 ( 2 overs)
Match: IPL 2024, 27th Match
Venue: Mohali | Date: April 13, 2024
