IPL 2024 | Twitter reacts to Maharaj-Jaiswal setting up Calypso-powered Royals win over Kings

IPL 2024 | Twitter reacts to Maharaj-Jaiswal setting up Calypso-powered Royals win over Kings

SportsCafe Desk

By SportsCafe Desk, SportsCafe Editor

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Rajasthan Royals secured a triumphant victory over Punjab Kings by three wickets, marking a return to their winning form. Chasing 148 runs, put up by Punjab, largely attributed to Keshav Maharaj's precise bowling, the Royals clinched the match with Yashasvi Jaiswal’s 39 runs off 28 deliveries.

Winning the toss on a pace-friendly pitch at Mullanpur proved advantageous for the Rajasthan Royals as they swiftly dismissed Punjab opener Atharva Taida in just the fourth over. The trouble persisted for the Kings as Prabhsimran Singh struggling with form this season departed in the seventh over with the score at 42/2. The situation worsened as Punjab lost two more wickets in quick succession with Jonny Bairstow and Sam Curran falling leaving the scorecard at 53/4 by the 10th over. Despite the struggle to find boundaries, Punjab's batting line-up faced further setbacks as the in-form Shashank Singh fell cheaply in the 13th over. However, Jitesh Sharma and Liam Livingstone steadied the innings with a resilient 33-run partnership guiding their side to 103/5 after 16 overs. Yet, the Kings faced another setback as they lost quick wickets again with Jitesh and Ashutosh Sharma departing, leaving the score at 123/7 by the 18th over. Ashutosh's brief yet impactful cameo of 31 off 16 deliveries boosted Punjab's total to 147/8 by the end of their innings.

The Rajasthan Royals got off to a good start with openers Yashasvi Jaiswal and Tanush Kotian guiding them to 43/0 in six overs. However, Livingstone ended Kotian's innings in the ninth over leaving the score at 58/1. Sanju Samson and Jaiswal then steadied the ship with a 26-run partnership pushing the score to 79/1 by the 11th over. But the Punjab bowlers struck back dismissing both batsmen in the 11th and 13th overs, thanks to Kagiso Rabada's impressive spell of 2/18. With 49 runs required from the final five overs, Riyan Parag and Dhruv Jurel were tasked with accelerating the run rate. Yet, their efforts were thwarted as they fell in quick succession in the 17th and 18th overs, leaving Rajasthan at 115/4 in 17.2 overs. As the match headed towards a thrilling climax, Rajasthan needed 20 runs off the last two overs, with Shimron Hetmyer and Rovman Powell at the crease. However, Powell hit two needed fours before getting dismissed along with Maharaj in the 19th over, leaving Rajasthan needing 10 runs from the final over. Hetmyer emerged as the hero, smashing a six and a boundary against Arshdeep to secure victory for his team and winning the game by three wickets. 

Thriller

To defend

Another edition

What a fight

Excellent

So special

Enjoying

Poll too

Just two

Skills

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