Picture : IPL / X
Keen to end his Tata IPL 2024 stint on a high , Punjab Kings Skipper Sam Curran came out a with a spirited all-round show to see his side beat Rajasthan Royals by 5 wickets in a encounter at Guwahati .
Earlier Sanju Samson the RR skipper won the toss and opted to bat first . Punjab bowlers put on the pressure form the start. With Jos Buttler returning for national duty , Royals missed the English skipper at the top . Royals in-fact struggled to put up a total and ended up putting modest one . Yashasvi Jaiswal was out quickly for 4 . Tom Kohler-Cadmore hit some lusty shots for his ( 18) , Skipper Sanju Samson looked out of touch for his 15 .
Local boy Riyan Parag delighted the home crowd with a fine 48 ( 34 balls, 6 fours), Rovman Powell ( 4), Ravichandran Ashwin promoted up the order scored 28 . Dhruv Jurel ( 0) , Donovan Ferreira ( 7) , Trent Boult run-out 12 . Avesh Khan not out 3. Royals ending at below par 144/ 9 in their 20 overs.
Punjab bowlers were backed by good fielding . Skipper Sam Curran leading the way with 2/ 24 ( 3 overs) , Arshdeep Singh 1/ 31 ( 4 overs), Nathan Ellis 1/ 24 ( 4 overs) , Harshal Patel 2/ 28 ( 4 overs) , Rahul Chahar 2/ 26 ( 4 overs) , Harpreet Brar 0/ 10 ( 1 over)
In the chase for the modest target , Punjab lost Prabhsimran Singh for ( 6), Jonny Bairstow ( 14 ) his last match before he flies back to England along with Sam Curran . Rilee Rossouw was batsman in hurry 22 ( 13 balls , 5 fours) . Shashank Singh was out for ( 0) . Jitesh Sharma ( 22).
But it was Skipper Sam Curran who looked cool and composed on the middle and scored a fine match- winning unbeaten 63 ( 41 balls, 5 fours, 3 sixes) and along with Ashutosh Sharma who too remained not out on 17 saw the Punjab Kings home by 5 wickets in 18. 5 overs. Punjab reaching 145/ . Curran fittingly won the man of the match award.
RR bowlers did not have the target to defend . Trent Boult 1/ 27 ( 3 overs) , Sandeep Sharma 0/ 28 ( 4 overs), Avesh Khan 2/ 28 ( 3.5 overs), Ravichandran Ashwin 0/ 31 ( 4 overs) , Yuzvendra Chahal 2/ 31 ( 4 overs).
Though Rajasthan Royals had qualified for the play-offs, what will hurt them that it was their fourth straight loss. And not a good sign going into the play-offs.
It was the fourth straight loss for the Royals who had already qualified for the play-offs though. They remained second on the table with 16 points .
Punjab will have lot to think for the next season 2025 with the auction as well as captaincy if it aims to do well .
PBKS Impact Player: Ashutosh Sharma replaces Arshdeep Singh
RR Impact Player: Donovan Ferreira replaces Dhruv Jurel
Match: IPL 2024, 65th Match
Venue: Guwahati | Date: May 15, 2024
