Mullanpur; News Agency: Rajasthan Royals, who lost their fifth match after winning their first four matches, returned to winning ways after defeating Punjab Kings. Playing at home on Saturday, the Punjab Kings batsmen struggled to manage 147 runs; But their bowlers bowled brilliantly and made Rajasthan fight for victory. Hetmyer pulled off Vijaysree with 10 runs in the last over. Rajasthan reached the winning target at the cost of 7 wickets. (PBKS vs RR)
Rajasthan Royals won the toss and decided to bowl and the bowlers got it right. Atharva Taide (15) made a strong start; But Avesh Khan got his wicket. Jonny Bairstow was standing on the field. Prabhasimran Singh (10) was sent back by Yuzvendra Chahal to give Punjab another shock at 41 runs. Bairstow (15) was caught in Keshav Maharaj's first over. Maharaj sent back Punjab captain Sam Curren (6) in his next over.
Kuldeep sent back Shashank Singh (9) cheaply in the 13th over to give Punjab another blow. In the same over, Liam Livingstone was caught by Sanju. Jitesh Sharma stood on the field for Punjab; But he was caught (29) trying to increase the run rate. Avesh took the second wicket of the match. He was tempted by two runs when he was all over Livingstone (21). Sanju cleverly runs him out. (PBKS vs RR)
Ashutosh Sharma pulled off some good shots in the last over to take Punjab to 147 for 8. He was dismissed for 31 off the last ball. After that, the 'Mumbaikar' duo of Yashasvi Jaiswal and Tanush Kotian came into the fray for Rajasthan Royals in pursuit of runs within 150. Both of them play Ranji matches for Mumbai. Tanush got a chance as Jos Buttler was not playing in this match. Jaiswal was aggressive while Tanush was playing cautiously. Both scored half-centuries; But Livingstone broke the pair by dismissing Tanush (24). Jaiswal (39) was also dismissed after this. Rabada dismissed him. After this, the Rajasthan team came under some pressure as Sanju Samson (18), Rian Parag (23) and Dhruv Jurel (6) were dismissed. Rajasthan needed 30 runs from 14 overs to win when Jurel was dismissed;
But Shimrom Hetmyer hit a four and a six, while Rovman Powell eased the pressure with two fours in a row; But in the 19th over, Sam Curren dismissed Powell (11) and Keshav Maharaj (1) to bring Punjab into the match.
Rajasthan needed 10 runs off the last over. Hetmyer was on strike. Arshdeep bowled the first two balls for no runs; But Hetmyer hit a six on the third ball. He took two runs off the fourth ball and hit another six off the fifth ball to give Rajasthan the win.
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