Rajasthan Royals chase down Punjab

Our Correspondent

Chasing IPL’s highest score of 223, Rajasthan Royals just made it by four wickets with three balls to spare against Kings XI Punjab at Sharjah Cricket Stadium on September 27.

After being sent to bat by RR which won the toss, KXI Punjab made an incredible 223/2. But it went in vain despite Mayank Agarwal’s brilliant 107 off 51 balls and his 83-run first wicket partnership with captain K.L. Rahul (69 off 54 balls). It was Mayank’s maiden century (10x4s, 7x6s) in IPL.

Rahul Tewatia’s 53 in 31 balls and five sixes in the 18th over helped Royals reach closer to the target in an exciting climax. Tewatia, who started very slow, had picked up steam towards the end. He however lost the battle to Mohammed Shami, just when his team needed two more runs off the last over. Tom Curran hit Murugan Ashwin for a four to complete the formalities. Earlier, captain Steve Smith (50 in 27 balls) and Sanju Samson (85 off 42 balls) had helped RR cruise towards the formidable total.

Sanju Samson was adjudged player of the match for his brilliant knock. This was his 12th half century in IPL.
KXIP’s Nicholas Pooran was another star player at the match whose acrobatics saved a big six from Samson. The West Indian player flew and literally caught the ball mid-wicket boundary and then mid-air, then threw the ball back into the play inches before touching the ground. Cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar termed it the best save he had seen in his life.