Rajasthan Royals

‘CSK aur MI ke baad toh apna hi…’: Sanju Samson’s witty ‘viewership’ remark | Cricket News

Danijones7 months ago03 mins

NEW DELHI: Having won five titles each, Chennai Super Kings and Mumbai Indians are the two most successful teams in the IPL. Renowned for their stellar lineup including icons like MS Dhoni, Rohit Sharma and Jasprit Bumrah, they remain the most sought after franchises in the league.In the IPL, close match finishes are a hallmark of the tournament’s thrilling action. With teams evenly matched and top players showcasing their skills, matches often go down to the wire, keeping fans on the edge of their seats until the last ball is bowled or the last run is scored.IPL 2024 Orange Cap| IPL 2024 Purple Cap | IPL 204 Points tableThe match between Punjab Kings and Rajasthan Royals on Saturday is the latest example of a nail-biting finish that saw RR hunt down a small 148-run target on the penultimate delivery of the match.After the match, players from both teams gathered for a chat and reflected on the intense contest. Sanju Samson joined the group, which included Yuzvendra Chahal, Jitesh Sharma, Prabhsimran Singh, Sandeep Sharma, and Harpreet Brar, and lightened the mood with a humourous remark. “CSK aur MI ke toh baad apna hi viewership hai,” joked Samson, responding to Chahal’s recollection of the close battles between PBKS and RR.Punjab Kings shared the video of players’ chat on their X handle.Talking about the match, Shimron Hetmyer’s explosive 27 runs off 10 balls helped Rajasthan Royals edge out Punjab Kings with a three-wicket win in Mullanpur.Hetmyer’s spell at the crease, laced with three sixes, brought Rajasthan past Punjab’s 147-8 with only one ball to spare, cementing the side’s place at the top of the table with only one loss from the season so far.

Riyan Parag For “T20 World Cup”? Ex-India Star Says He ‘Won’t Be Surprised’

Danijones7 months ago03 mins

Wasim Jaffer feels Riyan Parag might be considered for a place in the T20 World Cup.© BCCI Former India batter Wasim Jaffer suggested that he won’t be surprised if Rajasthan Royals (RR) all-rounder Riyan Parag is considered for a place in the 15-man squad for the upcoming T20 World Cup in West Indies and the USA. For years, the young right-handed batter faced trolls and criticism for his poor performances for RR. However, Parag has looked like a completely different player this season, and he is second in the list of highest run-scorers with 261 runs to his name in five matches. Read here: IPL 2024 Points Table Jaffer believes Parag might be on the list of names being considered for India’s T20 World Cup squad. “Looking at his form, I won’t be surprised if selectors are considering him for the T20 World Cup. The way he has played shows consistency, and I won’t be surprised if we see him there,” the former PBKS batting coach said on ESPNcricinfo. Jaffer also explained the reason behind Parag’s redemption arc and how the players has manage to shine this season, unlike the previous editions. “Riyan Parag is emerging to be a sensational player in this IPL. It’s pretty refreshing to see a young player performing like this. He has performed in the domestic cricket for Assam, and he’s carrying that form. The no.4 suits him better, as he gets some time to settle.” “The hard work is showing. He is fitter, and he looks composed. His shot selection is good; he has faced significant trolling over the past few years; he also played the difficult role of a finisher, but the Royals kept their faith in him. It feels like he has the right number now, and he is in the right frame of mind, too. He looks dedicated to proving everyone wrong,” he added. Only Virat Kohli (319) has scored more runs than Parag (261) in the ongoing IPL season. However, he will have a chance to overtake him when RR take on Punjab Kings on Saturday. Topics mentioned in this article

Sanju Samson: ‘Happy that everyone is eager to go…’: Sanju Samson lightens mood after catch mishaps | Cricket News

Danijones7 months ago03 mins

NEW DELHI: Rajasthan Royals found themselves in a familiar yet comical situation as fielders collided while attempting to take a catch during their Indian Premier League match against Punjab Kings, reminiscent of a memorable incident from IPL 2023. Captain Sanju Samson, while acknowledging the amusing nature of the recurring mishaps, also issued a reminder to his team regarding the importance of fielding.IPL 2024: POINTS TABLE | ORANGE CAP | PURPLE CAPDuring the penultimate over of the first innings of Punjab Kings, a miscued shot from Ashutosh Sharma off a delivery from fast bowler Avesh Khan led to a collision between Samson and Avesh as they both attempted to claim the catch. However, neither managed to complete the dismissal, allowing the batsman to capitalize and score valuable runs for Punjab Kings.Reflecting on the incident during the post-match presentation, Samson lightened the mood by remarking on Rajasthan’s tendency for such high-catch instances. “We had a few funny instances from last year and this year. But I am really happy that everyone is eager to go and catch it. I would be very sad if people are just staying away and not catching it,” he quipped, eliciting laughter from the presenter and the audience. While acknowledging the challenges posed by noisy crowds and the difficulty in communication during such moments, Samson emphasized the importance of fielders maintaining focus. He directed a firm message to his fast bowlers, highlighting that such catches are easier for wicketkeepers like himself than for fielders.“It gets a bit tough actually – the stadium is full of noise and when people call, we are looking at the ball, we can’t see who is coming. I need to tell my fast bowlers that it’s a bit easier to catch with the gloves instead of hands,” he emphasized, underlining the significance of fielding in the team’s overall performance.Samson’s light-hearted yet firm approach underscores the Royals’ commitment to improving their fielding standards while maintaining a positive spirit amidst the occasional mishaps on the field.

"It's good news for Punjab as well as India": Aakash Chopra on Arsdeep Singh's performance | Cricket

“He will likely be back by then”: Rovman Powell gives update on Buttler’s return | Cricket

Danijones7 months ago04 mins

Mullanpur [India], : Following the win against Punjab Kings in the Indian Premier League 2024, Rajasthan Royals all-rounder Rovman Powell provided an update on Jos Buttler saying that he will be back for the franchise’s next game against Kolkata Knight Riders on Tuesday. HT Image A determined and entertaining knock by Shimron Hetmyer helped RR secure a three-wicket win over PBKS in a last-over thriller during the IPL 2024) at Mullanpur Stadium on Saturday. It was the Punjab franchise’s second defeat on their home turf. Unlock exclusive access to the story of India’s general elections, only on the HT App. Download Now! The right-hand batter spoke about the partnership that he built along with Hetmyer during the chase. He asserted that both of us were calm and discussed that we had to finish the game early. “Definitely, it’s important for us to get two points, the guys are keeping up, and credit to the guys. The good thing is we both are calm, we talked that we should run fast, we are West Indians, and we are boundary-hitters. It’s a challenge but we are professional cricketers,” Powell said in the post-match interview. The 30-year-old player further stated that whenever he get’s an opportunity, he tries to give his best. “I think they are doing some very good work with him, I think he would be out for another day or two but it’s good that we have a game in 3-4 days, so he will likely be back by then. I am a good player, if I not getting games then it means the team is doing well. Whenever I get an opportunity, I will give my best,” the West Indian cricketer added. Coming to the game, PBKS was put to bat first. None of the batters could score big as knocks from Ashutosh Sharma and Jitesh Sharma helped PBKS reach 147/8 in their 20 overs. Keshav Maharaj and Avesh Khan were the pick of the bowlers for RR. In the run chase, Yashasvi Jaiswal had a 56-run stand with Tanush Kotian . After that, RR lost some quick wickets. But a quick cameo from Shimron Hetmyer helped the side chase down the target with a ball to go. Kagiso Rabada and Sam Curran were the top bowlers for PBKS. This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.

‘Didn’t start well, didn’t finish…’: Punjab Kings’ Sam Curran after another ‘close loss’ | Cricket News

Danijones7 months ago03 mins

NEW DELHI: Punjab Kings’ all-rounder Sam Curran, who led the team in the absence of injured skipper Shikhar Dhawan, blamed the team’s batters for another ‘close loss’ in the IPL, expressing disappointment with their inability to finish games. Shimron Hetmyer kept his clam and scored an unbeaten 27 off 10 balls as Rajasthan Royals beat Punjab Kings by three wickets in a low-scoring thriller to maintain their pole position in the points table.After restricting Punjab to 147/8 in 20 overs, Royals were in trouble when Hetmyer came in after Riyan Parag’s fall and saw Dhruv Jurel being dismissed as well. Under mounting pressure, Hetmyer, who barely got batting time in the season, smashed a four and three sixes, including the winning shot, to get Royals over the line with a ball to spare. IPL: POINTS TABLE | ORANGE CAP | PURPLE CAPDespite competitive performances, Punjab have struggled to convert opportunities into wins, highlighting the need for improved execution in crucial moments.“The wicket was slightly slow, but we didn’t start well with the bat and didn’t finish well in the end. It was a good effort from the lower order, getting (close) to 150 was excellent, the bowling was good, we kept them down, unfortunately another close loss,” Curran said at the post-match interaction.“We stuck to our plans, bowled and fielded well, but I’m confident we’ll bounce back in the next game. Three games is a hard way to fully work out the conditions (at the new venue), but we’ve adapted well, we won the first match and lost two matches by close margins (by 2 runs and 3 wickets), hard to take, but the boys will be lifted by how well we’ve played in the last couple of games,” Curran added.

‘Blessing and curse’: Shimron Hetmyer explains the role of a finisher | Cricket News

Danijones7 months ago04 mins

NEW DELHI: Shimron Hetmyer‘s explosive batting propelled the Rajasthan Royals to a thrilling three-wicket victory over the Punjab Kings at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium in Chandigarh on Saturday.With this win, Rajasthan Royals have maintained their position at the top of the points table. They have 10 points in 6 matches – 5 wins and 1 loss.With Punjab Kings restricted to 147/8 in their 20 overs, Rajasthan Royals faced a challenging chase, especially after the dismissals of Riyan Parag and Dhruv Jurel.IPL: POINTS TABLE | ORANGE CAP | PURPLE CAPHowever, entering the fray under pressure, Hetmyer showcased his prowess as a finisher, smashing an unbeaten 27 off just 10 balls.Despite limited opportunities with the bat throughout the season, Hetmyer’s onslaught included four boundaries and three sixes, culminating in the winning shot that secured victory for RR with a ball to spare.“(On finishing games) It’s just practice, I try as much as possible to bat properly in the nets first and then when everyone’s finished, I go back and try my best to hit sixes. It’s a blessing and a curse (on being the finisher). Sometimes it happens, sometimes it doesn’t. I am happy that I could help the team pull off a victory today. They (pressure) creep in the first couple of balls that I face, afterwards I just try to keep it as clear as possible,” Hetmyer said after the match.“Even in the last over after I missed the first two balls, he (Boult) came down to me and he was like “Don’t worry, we’ve got this,” and I was able to feed off his energy and it really worked. I would have taken it (single with 2 runs needed off 2 balls). I spoke to Boulty and he said, “I got this.” After he said that, I was like even if I don’t get the other one, I’ll try my best to get a single. Even if we don’t win it, at least tie it. I was really looking to get a single or double and then the full toss came and I tried to hit it over the guys that were inside. Being away from family, the only way you could keep yourself up is by just enjoying every moment that you’re here,” Hetmyer added.Rajasthan Royals will now face Kolkata Knight Riders on Tuesday at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata.

‘It’s easier to catch…’: Sanju Samson’s stern message to Rajasthan Royals pacers | Cricket News

Danijones7 months ago05 mins

NEW DELHI: In a hard-fought IPL encounter, Rajasthan Royals faced a formidable challenge from Punjab Kings’ bowlers, who utilised clever variations in pace on a challenging Mullanpur pitch in Chandigarh on Saturday.Despite the seemingly modest target of 148, Royals encountered significant hurdles as they navigated through a set of disciplined Punjab bowlers and a tricky playing surface.However, despite the challenges posed by the Punjab bowlers and the tacky pitch, Royals exhibited resilience and determination to overcome the obstacles. Through determined efforts and effective partnerships, they managed to reach the target, ultimately posting a total of 152 for seven.IPL: POINTS TABLE | ORANGE CAP | PURPLE CAPRoyals, who won 5 out of 6 games to sit atop, returned to winning ways after losing to Gujarat Titans in their last encounter.Royals skipper Sanju Samson, however, was not very happy with the way they fielded, especially on one occasion when he almost collided with pacer Avesh Khan in pursuit of a skier, ultimately both making a mess of it.“(High-catches) We had a few funny instances from last year and this year. But I am really happy that everyone is eager to go and catch it. I would be very sad if people are just staying away and not catching it. It gets a bit tough actually – the stadium is full of noise and when people call, we are looking at the ball, we can’t look who is coming. I need to tell my fast bowlers that it’s a bit easier to catch with the gloves instead of hands,” said Samson at the post-match interaction.“We all were (tensed during the run-chase). Games against Punjab in the last 3-4 years, each and every game is very close, very funny feeling. They were bowling really well, it was a funny game. (On Hetmyer) He has been doing it for years and years. Lots of experience, some composure and some confidence about his skills. He has won games many times. Rovman and Hetty – having them was good.Tanush is an interesting youngster. He came in as an allrounder, he had a fabulous Ranji Trophy season with Mumbai and he’s been performing well. He’s been impressing all the coaching staff and everyone in the nets. We had a proper, settled batting order after the openers, we didn’t want to unsettle it and then bring someone up for just one game,” Samson added.“Jos is almost ready for the next game, so we just wanted to try him up the order. Very happy to see him (Jaiswal) spend some time in the middle, get those 30s and 40s. That’s what this tournament has taught me for the last 10 years – never take it for granted. Last game, we did some really great things and we ended up on the losing side. Today, we made a bit more mistakes and we ended up winning the game. It’s a very funny game, so we’d like to keep our heads down and just do the process,” Samson concluded.

Shimron Hetmyer seals nervy win for Rajasthan Royals against Punjab Kings | Cricket

Danijones7 months ago06 mins

Given what had transpired in IPL 2024 before Saturday, a target of 148 should not have posed any threat. Especially when the team chasing was an in-form Rajasthan Royals (RR) and the team defending was a struggling Punjab Kings (PBKS). However, a tricky pitch at the stadium in Mullanpur combined with a better bowling show from PBKS meant that RR had a few jittery moments in their run chase. Rajasthan Royals batters Shimron Hetmyer and Trent Boult celebrate their victory over PBKS(PTI) In the end, RR did get to the target with three wickets in hand and only a ball to spare, which means they occupy the top spot with five wins in six matches. After an all-round bowling effort by RR that restricted the hosts to 147/8 — Avesh Khan and Keshav Maharaj took two wickets apiece while Trent Boult, Kuldeep Sen and Yuzvendra Chahal claimed a scalp each — it was Yashasvi Jaiswal and Shimron Hetmyer who played crucial knocks to take Rajasthan over the line in a tense chase. Unlock exclusive access to the story of India’s general elections, only on the HT App. Download Now! While Jaiswal got back to form at the top of the order with a 28-ball 39, Hetmyer showed his finishing prowess in the final over of the game. With RR needing 10 off the last six balls, Punjab’s Arshdeep Singh began by nailing the yorker twice in a row for dot balls. When Arshdeep erred ever so slightly off the third ball, Hetmyer managed to hit a six to relieve all the pressure. Two balls later, Hetmyer finished the game in style by hammering a rank full toss over the fine leg boundary for six. His 10-ball 27 not out earned him the player-of-the-match award. Arshdeep is known to bowl the yorker in the death overs but faltered in his execution against the big-hitting West Indian when the pressure was on. It didn’t look like Hetmyer would be required when Jaiswal was on song early in the innings. Used as an impact player in this game, Jaiswal stitched together an opening stand of 56 with Tanush Kotian, who was brought into the side for off-spinner R Ashwin and opened in Jos Buttler’s absence. Both Ashwin and Buttler were nursing niggles. If not for Kagiso Rabada dismissing Jaiswal and Sanju Samson in successive overs, RR might have had a much more straightforward chase. Riyan Parag, in superb form this season, also couldn’t see it through on Saturday, getting dismissed after making 23 off 18 balls courtesy an excellent catch by Rabada at deep midwicket off Arshdeep. That was when Hetmyer had to come to the party and he didn’t disappoint. Punjab faced a blow even before a ball was bowled as captain Shikhar Dhawan was not available for the game, resulting in Sam Curran taking charge. Similar to the previous games, Punjab’s top-order disappointed again as they were tottering at 52/4 in 9.3 overs. Jonny Bairstow’s middling run is a cause for concern in particular. He took 19 balls for 15 before giving left-arm spinner Maharaj his first IPL wicket. That Punjab’s eventual total had a degree of respectability was thanks to the efforts of Jitesh Sharma (29 off 24 balls), Liam Livingstone (21 off 14 balls) and Ashutosh Sharma. Having made an impact in the earlier games, Ashutosh again stepped up with a late blitz of 31 (16 balls) — his innings included three sixes and a four — to take the hosts near the 150-run mark. That 72 runs came off the last six overs allowed Punjab to go into the second innings with optimism. For RR, Maharaj and Avesh were the pick of the bowlers.

PBKS vs RR, IPL 2024 Highlights: Shimron Hetmyer stars as Rajasthan Royals beat Punjab Kings in a low-scoring thriller | Cricket News

Danijones7 months ago07 mins

NEW DELHI: Rajasthan Royals encountered a challenge against the Punjab Kings bowlers, who cleverly varied the pace on a sticky pitch. Despite the difficult conditions, the Royals managed to secure a hard-fought three-wicket victory in their IPL encounter on Saturday.Although the target of 148 seemed relatively straightforward, the precise bowling from Punjab and the challenging pitch made it a tough task for the Royals.However, they eventually reached 152 for seven.With 49 runs needed off the last five overs, the Rajasthan team faced a tense situation. Despite having power-hitters like Rovman Powell (11 off 5 balls) and Shimron Hetmyer (27 not out off 10 balls, including 1 four and 3 sixes), they had to wait until the penultimate ball of the match to cross the finish line. That equation came down to 10 off the final six balls after Hetmyer moussed Harshal Patel for a six and four, which the West Indian left-hander realised through a couple of sixes off pacer Arshdeep Singh in the last over.The Royals began their chase sedately through Yashasvi Jaiswal and Tanush Kotian without any real scoreboard pressure behind them.However, Kotian, who was batting so up in the order in T20s for the first time, did not find his flow but still assisted Jaiswal to add 56 in 8.2 overs.But his effort to hammer Liam Livingstone out of the ground ended up in him losing his leg-stump.Jaiswal, who played a delectable flick off Kagiso Rabada, looked on course to end a string of low scores in this IPL. But a rather needless uppercut off Rabada was grabbed by Harshal Patel near third man as Rajasthan looked a tad wobbly.Their woes deepened when skipper Sanju Samson, who had earlier broken the manacles with a six and four off Livingstone, was trapped leg-before by Rabada in his last over.Samson could not connect with a slightly low, incoming delivery from Rabada, and the ball pinged his backfoot and even the DRS could not save him.Earlier, Rajasthan bowlers under Avesh (2/34) and Maharaj (2/23) exploited a sticky pitch to the hilt to restrict Punjab Kings to an underwhelming total.Ashutosh Sharma (31, 16b), Jitesh Sharma (29, 24b) and Livingstone (21, 14b) tried to force the pace but Punjab needed more than those pretty little cameos. But the Kings had a rather quick start to their innings with 26 runs coming in the first three overs as Atharva Taide, who came in for injured skipper Shikhar Dhawan, hammered a couple of fours off pacer Kuldeep Sen.But the brakes were soon applied as Taide’s mistimed pull off Avesh ended in the hands of Sen inside the circle.Thereafter the Punjab batters struggled to muster any sort of momentum on a pitch that gripped a bit, especially for left-arm spinner Maharaj and leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal.However, a slice of credit should also go to veteran pacer Trent Boult who conceded just 15 runs in his three power play overs. The last three power play overs fetched only 10 runs for Kings as they ended that passage on a modest 38 for one.In the next five overs, the hosts struggled to hit even one boundary as they laboured to 53 for four in 10 overs, losing Jonny Bairstow, stand-in-skipper Sam Curran and Prabhsimran Singh, all consumed by the combination of a slow deck and accurate spinners.Their biggest hope could have been the range-hitting ability of in-form Shahshank Singh but a feeble pull off Sen could not progress beyond Jurel at mid-wicket.With the cream of top-order failing to contribute anything significant, PBKS required some hefty hand from Livingstone and Jitesh to get to even a par score.Sharma showed some intent too, clobbering Chahal for a gorgeously timed six over extra over, and later sent Sen for a six to the straight fence before getting out to Avesh.Livingstone, who creamed Sen for a six and four off successive balls through mid-wicket, and Ashutosh, who smoked Avesh for two sixes in the 19th over, helped PBKS add 61 runs in the last five overs, but their effort came a wee bit late. (With inputs from PTI)

Rajasthan Royals win the see-saw battle against Punjab Kings; Hetmyer shines with bat | Cricket

Danijones7 months ago010 mins

Mullanpur [India], : A determined and entertaining knock by Shimron Hetmyer helped Rajasthan Royals secure a three-wicket win over Punjab Kings in a last over thriller during the Indian Premier League at Mullanpur Stadium on Saturday. It was Punjab Kings second defeat on their home turf. HT Image RR continue to be on the top of points table with five wins and a loss and 10 points. PBKS are in the eighth spot, with two wins and four losses. Unlock exclusive access to the story of India’s general elections, only on the HT App. Download Now! In the run-chase of 148 runs, Rajasthan openers Yashasvi Jaiswal and Tanush Kotian started off well, taking precautions and not hitting too many big hits. Jaiswal in particular, took his time on the crease, hoping to find some form and runs. At the end of six overs and the powerplay, RR were 43/0, with Jaiswal and Kotian unbeaten. 50 runs were up for RR in 7.1 overs. The 56-run stand between the two ended with Kotian’s stumps castled by Liam Livingstone He scored 24 off 31 balls. RR were 56/1 in 8.2 overs. At the end of 10 overs, RR were 66/1, with skipper Sanju Samson joining Jaiswal . Samson hit Livingstone for a four and six. Jaiswal could not get his half-century. Kagiso Rabada got his first wicket and Harshal Patel took a catch at third man to remove the left-hander for 39 in 28 balls, with four boundaries. RR were 82/2 in 11.2 overs. Samson also gave away his wicket, as he was trapped leg-before-wicket by Rabada for 18 in 14 balls, with a four and six. RR were 89/3 in 13.2 overs. Youngsters Riyan Parag and Dhruv Jurel took RR to the 100-run mark in 15.1 overs. With some tight bowling, PBKS bowlers had managed to put pressure on RR. Though Parag tried to accelerate scoring with a six, Arshdeep got him caught near the boundary for 23 in 18 balls. RR were 113/4 in 16.2 overs. Just a few balls later, Harshal Patel dismissed Dhruv Jurel as well, for just six runs. Shashank Singh took a catch to reduce RR to 115/5 in 17.2 overs. Shimron Hetmyer and Rovman Powell took off a considerable amount of pressure in the see-saw battle with Hetmyer scoring a six and four in the 18th over, leaving RR with 20 runs to chase in 12 balls. Powell started the next over with two fours. However, he was caught behind by Jitesh Sharma, giving Sam Curran a wicket. He was gone for 11 in five balls. RR were 136/6 in 18.3 overs. Curran got Keshav Maharaj caught by Liam Livingstone on the final ball for just one. RR needed 10 runs in the final over. Arshdeep Singh was sent to bowl and he delivered two yorkers, but conceded a six on the third ball. Hetmyer took a double, bringing down the deficit to two runs in two balls. Hetmyer hit the winning boundary on the second-last ball, ending the innings at 152/7 in 19.5 overs. Hetmyer scored a magnificent 27 in 10 balls and was unbeaten with Trent Boult who was yet to open his account. Rabada and Curran were the top bowlers for PBKS. Earlier, fiery spells from Avesh Khan and Keshav Maharaj kept the wickets falling at regular intervals while a cameo from Ashutosh Sharma powered Punjab Kings to a respectable 147/8 in their 20 overs. After being put to bat first, PBKS started off cautiously, with openers Atharva Taide and Jonny Bairstow not taking a lot of risk against the new ball trio of Trent Boult, Avesh Khan and Kuldip Sen. Avesh got his first wicket in the powerplay, removing Taide for 12-ball 15, with two fours. He was caught by Kuldip at short third man. PBKS were 27/1 in 3.4 overs.Prabhsimran Singh and Bairstow took PBKS through the remainder of the powerplay without any further loss. Aet the end of six overs, PBKS were 38/1 after the powerplay. However, just after the powerplay ended, Prabhsimran threw his wicket, gifting an easy catch to Dhruv Jurel and Yuzvendra Chahal his 198th IPL wicket. e Bairstow’s poor run in IPL continued, as he gave Shimron Hetmyer some easy catching practice at cover region. Keshav Maharaj got him for just 15 runs in 19 balls, with only one boundary. PBKS were 47/3 in seven overs. Sam Curran joined Jitesh Sharma. PBKS reached the 50-run mark in nine overs. Jurel just could not be kept out of action as he ran from deep mid-wicket to take a fine catch, removing Curran for six off ten balls. Maharaj got his second wicket. PBKS were 52/4 in 9.3 overs. At the end of 10 overs, PBKS were 53/4. At the other end was now Shashank Singh, the uncapped Indian batter who had emerged as PBKS’ hero in the previous two matches. However, tight bowling from Royals’ managed to keep the batter silent, as Kuldip got his wicket for just nine runs in nine balls. Liam Livingstone joined Jitesh at the other end. Both upped the attack, smashing Kuldip for 17 runs in the 16th over, including two sixes and a four. 100 runs were up for Punjab in 16 overs. Avesh cut short their promising partnership at just 33 runs, removing Jitesh for 29 in 24 balls, with a four and two sixes. Riyan Parag took an easy catch. The next player was the ‘Impact Player’ Ashuotsh Sharma. He made his intentions clear by smashing Chahal for a six, but Livingstone was run out on the very next ball for 21 in 14 balls, with two fours and a six. The penultimate over by Avesh relieved some pressure for Punjab, as Ashutosh smashed two sixes and got 18 runs from it, taking the score to 141. The final over bowled by Boult produced only six runs and the wicket of Ashutosh on the final ball. PBKS ended their innings at 147/8 in their 20 overs, with…