Full match report:
Guwahati: Shikhar Dhawan and Prabhsimran Singh smashed classy half-centuries before Nathan Ellis' exploits with the ball guided Punjab Kings to a nervy five-run victory over Rajasthan Royals in an IPL match, here on Wednesday. Young Prabhsimran (60) and veteran skipper Dhawan (86 not out) pummelled the Rajasthan Royals attack to propel Punjab Kings to a challenging 197 for 4 after being asked to bat.
The Royals were then blown away by Ellis (4/30) before Shimron Hetmyer (35) and young 'Impact Player' Dhruv Jurel (32 not out off 15) stitched a 62-run partnership to get Rajasthan back in the game. But IPL's costliest overseas recruit Sam Curran, justified his top billing, by brilliantly defending 15 in the last over to restrict the Royals to 192 for 7.
Pacer Arshdeep Singh provided the early breakthrough as accounted fro both openers. The Royals sent Ravichandran Ashwin to open in place of Jos Buttler, who had walked off the filed grimacing after taking Shahrukh Khan's catch earlier on. Yashasvi Jaiswal was first to go as he sent the ball straight the fielder. The Ashwin experiment also failed as the senior spinner perished for a duck.
Coming at No. 3 Buttler, hit an 11-ball-19. He was dropped in the third over but couldn't much as he became Ellis' first victim of the night. Skipper Sanju Samson (42 off 25) looked in good nick as he timed the ball well. He smacked Harpreet Brar for back to back boundaries before greeting Ellis with twin fours.
Rajasthan were 89 for 3 at the halfway mark. But the Punjab bowlers managed to dry out the boundaries and with the required run rate increasing Samson succumbed under the pressure and mistimed a a cross seamer by Ellis. Ellis then sent back local favourite Riyan Parag (20 off 12) who played a quick cameo and Devdutt Padikal (21) packing before Hetmyer and Jurel hit a flurry of sixes and fours to bring the equation down to 15 off the last over.
Earlier, Prabhsimran, who hit seven fours and three sixes, mercilessly punished the Rajasthan bowlers during the first 10 overs to bring up his IPL maiden fifty off 28 balls as Punjab was off to a rollicking start. He and Dhawan added 90 runs for the opening stand off just 61 balls. On the other hand, Dhawan, switched gears effortlessly as he was 30 off 30 balls at one stage playing second fiddle to Prabhsimran. Once his opening partner was dismissed, Dhawan upped the ante as he scored 56 off next 26 balls that he faced.
The Punjab Kings skipper was dropped on 50 and made most of his reprieve as he played the role of sheet anchor, ensuring his team had enough runs on the board with dew setting in. His inning was studded with nine fours and three maximums that came in the second half.
Prabhsimran started by smacking Trent Boult for lacerating drive in the first over, making his intentions clear. He followed that up by slapping a six over backward square off KM Asif in the second over. Dhawan joined the party briefly with back-to-back fours in the next over.
But the young opener was brutal on Asif, whom he hammered for three fours and a six in the fourth over. He also didn't spare Boult and Ashwin. The 22-year-old first smacked a length ball over mid off before cutting one behind point for a second boundary. He followed that up with a short-arm pull over the midwicket region for a maximum.
The introduction of spin didn't bother Prabhsimran either as he continued his boundary hitting spree, hitting Ashwin to two consecutive fours as Punjab raced to 63/0 in the Powerplay. With a half-century in his kitty, Prabhsimran welcomed back Boult for his second spell with a flat-batted six down the ground.
His fabulous innings came to an end, courtesy Jason Holder and Buttler, who took a sensational catch, diving forward from long on. Punjab were handed another blow as Dhawan's powerful drive hit the big-hitting Bhanuka Rajapaksa in his right arm, forcing the Sri Lankan to retire hurt on 1.
A spectator for most part of Prabhsimran's innings, Dhawan upped the ante as he played some well-timed shots to get to his half century in 36 balls. Jitesh Sharma showcased his batting proweress in his 15-ball 27 that included in 89m monstrous six off Boult.
Spinners Ashwin and Yuzvendra Chahal were able to stem the run flow momentarily as they picked the wickets of Jitesh and Sikandra Raza in quick succession. Holder (2/29) then took a wicket and conceded just seven runs to restrict Punjab under the 200-run mark. (PTI)
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RR vs PBKS score | RR 109/4 (13): RR loses wickets at key intervals in this chase. First Jaiswal, then Ashwin, after him, Buttler, and now captain Sanju Samson departs exposing the seemingly weak RR middle-order.
The boundaries had dried up and Samson had to take a risk. He made room and thumped the cross-seam full delivery by Nathan Ellis but did not get the desired timing on the shot and sliced it off the toe-end straight down the throat of Short at long-off. Samson c (sub)Short b Nathan Ellis 42(25) [4s-5 6s-1]
Jos Buttler was caught&bowled by Nathan Ellis Buttler c and b Nathan Ellis 19(11) [4s-1 6s-1] making his the third RR wicket to fall in this chase. Jaiswal who had a great last match was caught at extra cover off the bowling of Arshdeep in the second over of the innings. Jaiswal c (sub)Short b Arshdeep Singh 11(8) [4s-1 6s-1]. Ashwin followed for a duck as Arshdeep picked his second wicket. Ashwin c Dhawan b Arshdeep Singh 0(4)
PBKS Innings summary
Young Prabhsimran Singh (60) and veteran skipper Shikhar Dhawan (86 not out) pummelled the Rajasthan Royals attack to propel Punjab Kings to a challenging 197 for 4 in the IPL, here on Wednesday.
Prabhsimran, who hit seven fours and three sixes, mercilessly punished the Rajasthan bowlers during the first 10 overs to bring up his IPL maiden fifty off 28 balls as Punjab was off to a rollicking start. He and Dhawan added 90 runs for the opening stand off just 61 balls. On the other hand, Dhawan, switched gears effortlessly as he was 30 off 30 balls at one stage playing second fiddle to Prabhsimran. Once his opening partner was dismissed, Dhawan upped the ante as he scored 56 off next 26 balls that he faced.
The Punjab Kings skipper was dropped on 50 and made most of his reprieve as he played the role of sheet anchor, ensuring his team had enough runs on the board with dew setting in. His inning was studded with nine fours and three maximums that came in the second half. Prabhsimran started by smacking Trent Boult for lacerating drive in the first over, making his intentions clear. He followed that up by slapping a six over backward square off KM Asif in the second over. Dhawan joined the party briefly with back-to-back fours in the next over.
But the young opener was brutal on Asif, whom he hammered for three fours and a six in the fourth over. He also didn't spare Boult and Ravichandran Ashwin. The 22-year-old first smacked a length ball over mid off before cutting one behind point for a second boundary. He followed that up with a short-arm pull over the midwicket region for a maximum.
The introduction of spin didn't bother Prabhsimran either as he continued his boundary hitting spree, hitting Ashwin to two consecutive fours as Punjab raced to 63/0 in the Powerplay. With a half-century in his kitty, Prabhsimran welcomed back Boult for his second spell with a flat-batted six down the ground. His fabulous innings came to an end, courtsey Jason Holder and Jos Buttler, who took a sensational catch, diving forward from long on.
Punjab were handed another blow as Dhawan's powerful drive hit the big-hitting Bhanuka Rajapaksa in his right arm, forcing the Sri Lankan to retire hurt on 1. A spectator for most part of Prabhsimran's innings, Dhawan upped the ante as he played some well-timed shots to get to his half century in 36 balls. Jitesh Sharma showcased his batting proweress in his 15-ball 27 that included in 89m monstrous six off Boult.
Spinners Ashwin and Yuzvendra Chahal were able to stem the run flow momentarily as they picked the wickets of Jitesh and Sikandra Raza in quick succession. Holder (2/29) then took a wicket and conceded just seven runs to restrict Punjab under the 200-run mark. (Innings summary by PTI)
Toss: Rajasthan Royals captain Sanju Samson won the toss, and elected to bowl first. Both teams going with the same lineups.
Here is what Captains said after toss: "We all know the dew comes. We also wanted to bowl first. It is alright. We are used to it. Let's go day by day. Not putting too much on pressure on myself. The process matters the most. Same eleven from the last game. RR are a very good side. They are playing good cricket. We want to give our best." Shikhar Dhawan.
"We would like to bowl here. Expecting some dew. We will use the oppurtunity to bowl first. It is a great thought by the franchise. Loving it here. The players have gotten used to the conditions. We are going in with the same side. Very happy to see them grow. Jaiswal and Parag have grown a lot learning from the experienced guys." -- Sanju Samson.
The Teams
RR: Yashasvi Jaiswal, Jos Buttler, Sanju Samson(w/c), Devdutt Padikkal, Riyan Parag, Shimron Hetmyer, Jason Holder, Ravichandran Ashwin, Trent Boult, KM Asif, Yuzvendra Chahal
PBKS: Shikhar Dhawan(c), Prabhsimran Singh(w), Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Jitesh Sharma, Shahrukh Khan, Sam Curran, Sikandar Raza, Nathan Ellis, Harpreet Brar, Rahul Chahar, Arshdeep Singh
