IPL 2024: Rajasthan wins a low scoring thriller, defeats Punjab by 3 wickets
Xtra Time Web Desk: In another edge of the seat IPL thriller, Rajasthan Royals defeats Punjab Kings by 3 wickets at the Mohali stadium, Punjab on 13th April, Saturday. Royals snatched a thrilling victory by three wickets against the Punjab Kings in low-scoring match. Shimron Hetmyer played a little gem of innings to steer away his team to victory. What initially appeared to be a straightforward pursuit transformed into an intense, low-scoring spectacle in today's Rivalry Week match, as the Royals clinched victory over Punjab Kings by 3 wickets.
Opting to field after winning the toss, RR faced a PBKS side missing their skipper, Shikhar Dhawan. Punjab initially struggled in the first 8 overs, losing three key top-order batsmen for a mere 48 runs. Atharva departed after scoring 15 runs, Prabhsimran attempted to accelerate but was dismissed by Chahal after contributing 10 runs, while Bairstow followed suit soon after, departing with 15 runs to his name. Sam Curran also fell early, managing just 6 runs. Their scoring rate remained below par during this phase, particularly in the absence of Shikhar Dhawan, Punjab found some stability towards the end of their innings thanks to Jitesh Sharma's 29 and a quickfire 31 off 16 balls by Ashutosh, allowing them to post a total of 147/8 in their allotted 20 overs, providing a competitive target against the Royals.
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In a tense 148-run chase, RR stumbled, losing three wickets, managing to reach 90 in 14 overs against PBKS. Yashasvi Jaiswal and Tanush Kotian provided a solid start with a 56-run opening partnership for the Rajasthan Royals, but Kotian fell victim to a bowled-out dismissal after scoring 24 runs. Jaiswal regained some form, yet he was dismissed for 39, missing out on another opportunity for a substantial score following a promising start. Shortly after, Sanju Samson was adjudged LBW to Rabada after contributing 18 runs. Despite a series of wicket losses, the Royals managed to maintain their momentum, with Hetmyer's explosive batting enabling them to reach the target and ultimately secure victory by three wickets.
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