IPL 2023: Punjab Defeats Rajasthan Royals In a Thriller

IPL 2023: Punjab Kings secure a thrilling five-run victory over Rajasthan Royals

IPL 2023: Punjab Defeats Rajasthan Royals In a Thriller

As Jurel and Hetmyer of the Rajasthan Royals narrowly miss the mark, the difference is made by the start of the captain Dhawan and Prabhsimran.

Punjab Kings defeated Rajasthan Royals by five runs on Wednesday at Guwahati’s Barsapara Stadium after eking out a ferocious 62-run partnership between Shimron Hetmyer and Dhruv Jurel.

With 63 in the powerplay, 89 in the following nine, and only 45 runs in the final 30 balls, Punjab Kings nearly lost their batting momentum. During a bowling attack that saw even the usually formidable Yuzvendra Chahal go for 12.5 runs per over, Ravichandran Ashwin and Jason Holder picked up three wickets for 54 runs in eight overs.

Nothing highlighted Holder’s dominance more than his 20th over, in which he not only got rid of Shahrukh Khan but also gave up just seven runs.

Although the shots weren’t coming in right away, the start was so strong that the Kings essentially ran on fumes. This advantage was set up by Prabhsimran Singh, who scored two-thirds of a 34-ball 60 in boundaries and sixes.

Punjab Kings were on track to pass 200 runs until Jos Buttler caught Prabhsimran in the 10th over with a spectacular catch coming in from long-off. Shikhar Dhawan stepped forward as they now needed to pace their innings.

His transformation was not the most visually appealing because he repeatedly missed the reverse ramp shot. However, it was undeniably impactful. Dhawan’s X-factor was his perseverance and willingness to stretch the game from a run-a-ball 30 to a 36-ball fifty before scoring 86 off 56. With an 18-run over off Chahal, he began to find his rhythm. He finished it off with a huge six over long-on, pulling him from wide of off.

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Dhawan scored boundaries in the next over from Chahal through a deep backward square, deep midwicket, and long off to score his 50th IPL fifty, putting him 10 behind David Warner and level with Virat Kohli.

Dhawan was the only batter to strike Holder for a six, a deliberate reverse flick over backward point, as the innings came to a close and Holder was gradually altering the course of the innings. Even though Punjab Kings’ rate of progress had significantly decreased, Dhawan’s last two boundary hits kept them in the game.

Royals would have bet that they could get 197 with the sort of batting they have if dew had been expected at Barsapara Stadium. But while Yashasvi Jaiswal was on the click, extending his arms to a half-tracker from Sam Curran for a 69-meter six, Buttler demoted himself while attempting to treat a hand bruised while taking a catch. Jaiswal finished for the day after four more, holing to additional cover.

With his dismissal before making a single, Ashwin, who has batted from No. 1 to No. 10, had a forgettable outing. Samson once again turned up the heat with a 25-ball 42, holding Royals in the chase after Buttler was caught and bowled by Nathan Ellis in an odd move.

Ellis used his lengths skillfully to dismiss Devdutt Padikkal and local boy Riyan Parag despite their promising starts. Royals were facing a score of 69 from 24 balls after Rahul Chahar’s five-run 16th over, which put them in danger of being out.

Shimron Hetmyer and impact replacement Dhruv Jurel, though, had other ideas. They put forward a 50-run partnership off by just 22 balls before limiting the scenario to 16 off 6.

The most expensive IPL player ever, Curran, demonstrated why he is so highly regarded by taking Hetmyer out and scoring three runs off his first three balls. Curran then maintained his composure to seal a slim victory.

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