Indian Premier League 2024

'Kya faida, qualify to karne nahii wale' - Fans react as RR beat PBKS in their last league match of IPL 2023

Rajasthan Royals kept their hopes alive for qualifying for the playoffs with a thrilling last-over victory over Punjab Kings by 4 wickets

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Yashasvi Jaiswal

Yashasvi Jaiswal (Source - Twitter)

Yashasvi Jaiswal Yashasvi Jaiswal (Source - Twitter)

Rajasthan Royals (RR) kept their hopes alive for qualifying for the playoffs with a thrilling last-over victory over Punjab Kings (PBKS) by 4 wickets in match number 66 of IPL 2023 at the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium (HPCA) in Dharamshala. Batting first, PBKS posted a total of 187 runs for loss of 5 wickets. In reply, RR scored 189 runs in 19.4 overs losing 6 wickets.

PBKS didn’t had a great start as they lost Prabhisimran Singh, who was caught and bowled by Trent Boult in the second ball of the match at the score of 2. A few overs later, Atharva Taide also lost his wicket to Navdeep Saini after scoring 19 off 12.

While an over later, skipper Shikhar Dhawan also went back to the pavilion scoring 17 runs off 12 balls after Adam Zampa bowled him out LBW. Liam Livingstone also couldn’t continued his form from the last match as he went back for 9 runs and the PBKS lost 4 wickets for 50 runs in 6.3 overs.

After that, Sam Curran and Jitesh Sharma took charge of the innings and added 64 runs for the fifth wicket. Jitesh got out after scoring 44 runs off 28 balls with three fours and three sixes. After his dismissal, Curran and Shahrukh Khan put up an unbeaten partnership of 73 runs for the sixth wicket.

Curran remained unbeaten on 49 runs off 31 balls with four fours and two sixes. Shahrukh scored 41 off 23 balls hitting four fours and two sixes. For RR, Navdeep Saini scalped 3 wickets by conceding 40 runs in his four overs,  while Trent and Adam Zampa shared a wicket each.

Yashasvi Jaiswal and Devdutt Padikkal set the momentum for RR after early wicket

Chasing the winning total, RR didn’t get the start they wanted as Jos Buttler went for a duck in the second over at the score of 12. After that, Yashasvi Jaiswal and Devdutt Padikkal put up a partnership of 73 runs for the second wicket. Padikkal got out on the fifth ball of the 10 over after scoring 51 runs off 30 balls with five fours and three sixes.

In the very next over, skipper Sanju Samson went back to the pavilion after scoring just 2 runs. After that, Jaiswal added 47 runs with Shimron Hetmyer for the fourth wicket. The 21-year-old got out after scoring 50 runs off 36 balls with eight boundaries.

After his wicket, Hetmyer and Riyan Parag took the innings further and took RR closer to the victory. Parag got out in the last ball of the 18th over after a quickfire knock of 20 runs off 12 balls with one four and two sixes. In the next over, Hetmyer also lost his wicket after scoring 46 runs off 28 balls hitting four fours and three sixes.

Dhruv Jurel added the finishing touches along with Trent Boult as RR chased the winning total with two balls to spare. For PBKS, Kagiso Rabada took 2 wickets, Sam Curran, Nathan Ellis, Arshdeep Singh and Rahul Chahar shared a wicket each.

Here's a look at reactions from the fans:

 

IPL 2023 Rajasthan Royals Punjab Kings