🏏 IPL 2024 ~ Match N 27 PBKS vs RR in Mullanpur @7.30 PM IST 🏏 - Page 43

Another close encounter between these two teams! After the first innings, Rajasthan Royals were firm favourites but Punjab fought hard. Inserted to bat, Punjab hardly found any momentum with the bat. Ashutosh Sharma came in as the Impact Player at number eight and top-scored with a 16-ball 31 to take his team's total close to 150 on a sluggish track. In reply, Rajasthan didn't lose a single wicket in the powerplay but they managed to score just 38 runs in that phase. Kotian, batting at the top, struggled and fell in the ninth over. The asking rate was under check but Rabada picked two crucial wickets (Jaiswal and Samson) in two overs. The Punjab bowlers fought valiantly to put the RR batters under pressure.

Tmrw this time CSK win or lose tension for us.

Sam Curran | PBKS Captain - 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 to 150 was excellent, the bowling was good, we kept them down, unfortunately another close loss. 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.

When Jurel holed out to deep midwicket, RR needed 33 runs in 16 balls and that's when the two Caribbean big-hitters joined hands. They scored 18 runs in 4 balls but Curran nipped out Powell with a short ball. With 10 needed off the final over, Arshdeep nailed a couple of yorkers, but Hetmyer held his nerve to take his team over the line with a couple of sixes.

Rovman Powell: Definitely, it’s important for us to get two points, the guys are creeping up, credit to the guys. (On his stand with Hetmyer) The good thing is we both are calm, we talked that we should run fast, we are West Indians, we are boundary-hitters. It’s a challenge but we are professional cricketers. (On being asked about Buttler’s niggle) 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 my opportunity, I will give my best.

Tomorrow is double header

Double tension

Double headers tomorrow! KKR vs LSG and MI vs CSK

RR’s run-chase

Overs 1-8: 56/0 (RR: 7)

Overs 9-14: 34/3 (RR: 5.67)

Overs 15-19.5: 62/4 (RR: 10.63)

PBKS bowling

Rabada and Curran: 4/43 from 8 overs (ER: 5.375)

Others: 3/109 from 11.5 overs (ER: 9.21)

RR vs PBKS since 2020

Matches: 8

Won by RR: 6

Won by PBKS: 2