Kartik Tyagi stuns Punjab Kings with repeat of Munaf Patel’s rare 12-year-old feat in IPL

Rajasthan Royals (RR) fielders were too ordinary in the middle to put pressure on Punjab Kings’ (PBKS) batsmen in the run chase early on in the innings. The dropped chances almost led to RR’s defeat despite posting a fighting target of 186 on the board but it was Tyagi’s nerves of steel that handed them a precious win by two runs.

Rahul's three lives
PBKS skipper KL Rahul got three lives in the powerplay overs, the phase of play where RR needed early wickets to slow down the flow of runs and increase the required run rate. Rahul was dropped on the scores of 2, 29 and 31. The opener went on to score 49 runs and stitch a 120-run partnership with Mayank Agarwal. 

Tyagi turns the match
RR’s young speedster Kartik defended four runs in the last over like his life depended on it. With Nicholas Pooran and Aiden Markram in the middle, most people would have named PBKS winners. But, Tyagi bowled it full and wide giving just one run in the last over and picking wickets of Pooran and Deepak Hooda. The 20-year-old is only the second bowler to defend less than six runs successfully in IPL. The last instance was in 2009 when Munaf Patel won the match for RR against Mumbai Indians.

Unlucky numbers for Punjab
Like tonight, Kings’ top order-batsmen shared a 120-run partnership against Royals in last season as well that ended up in losing cause. The two batsmen in the last year’s clash sharing the century partnership were Rahul and Chris Gayle. Also, this is the fourth time Rahul and Agarwal’s century ends have resulted in a loss. Kings have only once when the duo have shared a century stand. 

Arshdeep gets five-for
The only consolation for PBKS will be Arshdeep Singh’s five-for on a day batsmen dominated for the most part. Arshdeep’s fifer included the wickets of opener Evin Lewis who was hitting bowlers all around the park. He also took crucial wickets of Liam Livingstone and Mahipal Lomror who were going all guns blazing. His spell in the middle overs helped bring the total down. The left-arm pacer also became the third-youngest to register a five-wicket haul in IPL.