IPL 2024 RR vs PBKS : PBKS Triumph Over RR with 5 Wickets, 144/9 vs 145/5

IPL 2024 RR vs PBKS : In a gripping encounter at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium, Punjab Kings (PBKS) clinched a five wicket victory over Rajasthan Royals (RR), ensuring a nail biting finish to match No. 65 of IPL 2024. The game was a roller coaster ride with twists and turns, as both teams put up a commendable fight.

Let’s have a look into more details : IPL 2024 RR vs PBKS

Match Highlights

• Punjab Kings (145/5) defeated Rajasthan Royals (144/9) by 5 wickets.
• Sam Curran smashed a crucial half century off 38 balls.
• Riyan Parag led the RR charge with a valiant 48 off 34 balls.
• Sanju Samson achieved a milestone by completing 500 runs in IPL 2024.
• RR skipper Samson won the toss and opted to bat, yet the team struggled in the powerplay.
• Jos Buttler was notably absent from the RR lineup, replaced by Tom Kohler-Cadmore.

Rajasthan Royals Innings

Opting to bat first, RR had a shaky start, posting just 38 runs in the powerplay, marking their second lowest score in this phase this season. Yashasvi Jaiswal fell for a mere 4 runs, and Sanju Samson managed only 18. Tom Kohler-Cadmore, stepping in for Jos Buttler, couldn’t capitalize, scoring 18 off 23 balls. However, it was local hero Riyan Parag who offered resistance, scoring 48 off 34 balls. Ravichandran Ashwin contributed a crucial cameo of 28 off 19 balls, helping RR reach 144/9 in their 20 overs. Harshal Patel was the standout bowler for PBKS, securing two wickets for 28 runs and retaining the Purple Cap.

Punjab Kings Chase

The PBKS chase was off to a rocky start as Avesh Khan triggered a top order collapse, reducing them to 36/3 in 4.5 overs. Jonny Bairstow and Shashank Singh couldn’t make significant impacts, but skipper Sam Curran played a captain’s knock. Curran’s unbeaten 63 off 41 balls, along with a crucial partnership with Jitesh Sharma (22) and a pivotal cameo by Impact Player Ashutosh Sharma, steered PBKS to victory with three balls to spare.

Key Performances

• Sam Curran: The PBKS skipper led from the front, securing the win with his all-round performance. He joined the elite list of all-rounders with a 50-plus score and two wickets in a single IPL match.
• Harshal Patel: With his disciplined bowling, Patel ensured RR couldn’t post a high total, taking key wickets at crucial moments.
• Avesh Khan: His initial burst with the ball put PBKS on the back foot, giving RR an early advantage.

Captain’s Take

Reflecting on the match, RR skipper Sanju Samson admitted the team fell short of a defendable total. “We thought 160-170 would have been a good score. We are not used to playing on such wickets this season where 200 plus totals are getting scored easily. We had to play smart cricket and build those partnerships,” he said. Despite the loss, Samson’s individual milestone of reaching 500 runs in a single IPL season was a silver lining for the Royals.

This match marked PBKS’s last game in IPL 2024 as they missed out on the playoffs, but they ensured a memorable exit by spoiling RR’s party at their second home. RR, having already qualified for the playoffs, will need to regroup and address their batting inconsistencies to make a deeper run in the tournament.

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