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Brought back into the side, Yashasvi Jaiswal’s half-century in the run chase followed by Shimron Hetmyer’s finishing attack help Rajasthan Royals (RR) beat Punjab Kings (PBKS) by six wickets to rise to the third spot in the points table. Royals’ win makes it tough for PBKS to qualify for the playoffs as they will have to win all of their remaining matches to stand a chance.
Early onslaught
Jaiswal made his intentions known from the start by taking on Sandeep Sharma in the first over. Jos Buttler and Jaiswal got Royals off to a lightening start. The English wicketkeeper-batter did not last too long at the crease. Buttler got out after a cameo of 16-ball 30. Kagiso Rabada got hit for 20 runs in the fourth over before he got the better of Buttler.
Jaiswal continued the onslaught with skipper Samson going all guns blazing to help Royals post 67/1, their highest score in powerplay overs. But once again, Samson got out after playing a few flashy shots. Rishi Dhawan got his wicket in his second over. Samson scored 23 runs from 12 deliveries.
Padikkal struggles, Jaiswal hits fifty
Pushed down the order, Devdutt Padikkal joined Jaiswal. Padikkal struggled to score initially and had just seven runs from 12 deliveries. Meanwhile, Jaiswal got to his first half-century of the season from 33 deliveries.
In the 13th over, Jaiswal hammered Rishi for three boundaries and prevented the require run rate from climbing up. Arshdeep Singh came back into the attack and got Jaiswal's wicket. The southpaw scored 68 runs from 41 deliveries including nine boundaries and a couple of sixes.
Hetmyer – the finisher
Hetmyer took charge of the chase as Padikkal did not look at his best. Hetmyer took on Arshdeep and Rabada to make it look easier for Royals in the death overs. RR had a minor hiccup when Padikkal got out in the penultimate over for a score of 31 from 32 deliveries.
In the last over, PBKS skipper gave the ball to leg-spinner Chahar instead of Rishi to defend seven runs. Hetmyer hit a six to release pressure as Royals won the match with two balls to spare. Hetmyer remained unbeaten for 31 off just 16 deliveries.
Bairstow returns to form
Earlier, Jonny Bairstow finally fired in IPL 2022. Bairstow scored his first half-century of the season in his second chance as an opener. In powerplay overs, Ashwin got the wicket of opener Shikhar Dhawan. Despite the wicket, PBKS managed to post 48/1 during the fielding restrictions.
The partnership between Bairstow and Bhanuka Rajapaksa was looking threatening but Yuzvendra Chahal came to Royals’ rescue again. After getting whacked in his first over, Chahal got the wicket of Rajapaksa. The Sri Lankan scored 27 runs off 18 deliveries which included two fours and as many sixes.
Chahal strikes twice
In the 13th over, Bairstow got to his half-century from 34 deliveries. In the 15th over, Chahal struck twice. First, he got the wicket of an out-of-form PBKS skipper Mayank Agarwal followed by set batter Bairstow. Agarwal scored 15 runs from 13 deliveries. Bairstow got out for 56 off 40 deliveries. His knock included eight fours and one six.
The gamble that did not pay off
Skipper Samson made the mistake of taking Chahal off from the end he was bowling which allowed Liam Livingstone and Jitesh Sharma to get easy runs. In the 18th over, Chahal bowled an expensive over too as he conceded 11 runs. Livingstone was looking to score quickly and took on Prasidh Krishna.
Big finish
In the penultimate over, Krishna managed to take the wicket of Livingstone. The Englishman managed to score 22 runs off 14 deliveries. In the last over, Jitesh went ballistic against Kuldeep Sen hitting him for two fours and a six to help PBKS post a fighting total of 189/5.
