Rajasthan Royals beat Punjab Kings by 4 wicktes: Indian Premier League

DHARAMSALA: Young Yashavi Jaiswal, Devdutt Padikkal’s half centuries and Shimron Hetmyer’s terrific innings kept hopes alive for Rajasthan Royals to qualify for the next stage of Indian Premier League as they beat Punjab Kings by 4 wicktes in their final league match at Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium, here on Friday.

Chasing 188 runs to win, Royals reached the target in 19.4 overs losing 6 wickets. After losing Jus Buttler (0) in the second over, opener Jaiswal (50 from 36 balls) and Padikkal (51 from 30 balls) added 73 runs. Hetmyer struck 46 runs while Riyan Parag scored 20 runs from 12 balls.

Earlier, Sam Curran's unbeaten 49 off 31 and Shahrukh Khan's quickfire 41 not out off 28 along with Jitesh Sharma's 31-ball 44 guided Punjab Kings (PBKS) to 187/5. After a shaky start, Jitesh and Curran steadied the innings with a crucial 64-run stand before the latter got dismissed. Then, Shahrukh joined Sam and the duo established an unbeaten 73-run partnership off 37 balls, taking 46 runs off the last two overs to take Punjab to 187/5 in 20 overs.

Trent Boult struck to put an early dent in PBKS' innings as he caught and bowled opener Prabhsimran Singh on the second ball of the innings. But Punjab regrouped quickly with the help of Shikhar Dhawan and Atharva Taide's strokeplay before Saini sent back Taide for a quickfire 19. An over later, Adam Zampa came in attack and removed PBKS skipper Dhawan out lbw as PBKS reduced to 48/3 at the end of the Power-play.

For Royals, Navdeep Saini was the pick of the bowlers, claiming three wickets in his allotted overs after conceding 40 runs.

Brief scores: Punjab Kings 187/5 in 20 overs (Sam Curran 49, Shahrukh Khan 41 not out; Navdeep Saini 3-40) lost to Rajasthan Royals 189/6 in 19.4 overs (Yashavi Jaiswal 50, Devdutt Padikkal 51, Shimron Hetmyer 46, Riyan Parag 20). Agencies

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