IPL 2021: PBKS vs RR Review – Rajasthan Royals snatch victory from jaws of defeat

Punjab Kings started their UAE leg of the IPL 2021 with a loss against Rajasthan Royals at the Dubai International Stadium on September 21. Chasing a target of 186 runs, KL Rahul led team were getting to the total quite comfortably, but the Royals pulled off a thriller by miraculously scripting a win.

Earlier in the evening, Rahul decided to bowl first after winning the toss. The wicket was quite flat and Rajasthan Royals openers pounced on the opportunity. Evin Lewis, making his debut for the Royals, scored 36 runs from 21 balls. His partner Yashaswi Jaiswal made 49 off 36. The partnership helped lay a good foundation. Liam Livingstone made 25 runs from 17 while Mahipal Lomror batted brilliantly for his 43 runs from 17 balls.

At one point, Rajasthan were on 164 for 4 after 16 overs. But some seriously good death bowling made them lose six wickets in the last four overs. Mohammed Shami ended his four-over spell with figures of 3 for 21 while Arshdeep Singh picked up five wickets with the ball. All of that meant Rajasthan were bowled out for 185 runs.

Mayank Agarwal and KL Rahul started well as they have known to do and made their fourth century partnership for Kings. Rahul was dropped thrice on his way to 49 runs from 33 balls. Mayank made 67 runs from 43 balls as the duo had a stand of 120 runs in 11.5 overs. Another fifty-plus stand between Aiden Markram (26 off 20) and Nicholas Pooran (32 off 22) carried them to the doorstep of victory.

They needed 10 off 15 balls. Then 4 off 6 balls. Then 3 off 4. And finally 3 off 1. Kartik Tyagi pulled off victory from the jaws of defeat giving just one run in the last over. Rajasthan eventually won by just two runs.

Top performers:

Arshdeep Singh:

The left-arm seamer has been impressive in this season so far. He picked up three wickets in three crucial stages of the innings. One when Evin Lewis was going berserk. Then, he came to get the wicket of Livingstone when he was hitting out. Later he dismissed Lomror when he was looking in the mood. He further finished the tail getting his last two wickets.

Kartik Tyagi:

When Tyagi came to bowl the last over, he had already given 28 runs from his three overs and had not picked up a wicket. He bowled a brilliant length managing to make sure that Punjab batters aren’t able to hit out. He dismissed Deepak Hooda and Nicholas Pooran in this over and helped the Royals to an unforgettable win.

Personal achievements/records:

• Arshdeep Singh became the second player to take a five-wicket haul against Rajasthan Royals. The first was his head coach at Punjab Kings, Anil Kumble.
• Arshdeep became the third uncapped player to take a five-for after Ankit Rajpoot and Harshal Patel.

Way Ahead:

Punjab Kings will now face Sunrisers Hyderabad on September 25. Rajasthan will play Delhi on the same day.