By K Aditya
Dubai, Sep 21 (UNI) Rajasthan Royals (RR) were bowled out for 185 runs in 20 overs by Punjab Kings in Match 32 of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2021, here on Tuesday.
A five-wicket haul from Punjab Kings bowler Arshdeep Singh broke the backbone of Rajasthan Royals after they got off to a flying start.
The 22-year-old medium-pacer produced a career-best of 5/32 when Royals felt bullish about their chances of setting a target of over 200 runs. After Yashasvi Jaiswal (49 runs off 36 balls), Evin Lewis (36 off 21) and Mahipal Lomror (43 off 17) took RR beyond 150 in 16 overs, Royals succumbed to the pressure created by Arshdeep and pacer Mohammed Shami (3/21) at the death as the last six wickets fell for just 19 runs.
Sent in to bat first, Royals made the most of the powerplay on a flat surface with 57 runs from the six overs of fielding restrictions. In-form Lewis did the bulk of scoring with seven boundaries and a six as youngster Jaiswal enjoyed the blitzkrieg from the other end. Lewis, however, couldn't convert the start into big innings and was deceived by Arshdeep's change of pace in the sixth over.
10 balls later, skipper Sanju Samson (4 off 5) followed with debutant pacer Ishan Porel claiming his maiden IPL wicket.
Jaiswal, who by now had spent enough time at the wicket, took charge of RR batting ad stitched a quick 28-ball 48-run stand with English batsman Liam Livingstone (25 off 17).
The partnership, laced with four boundaries and two sixes, allowed the pink-clad outfit to put 100 runs on the board by the end of 11th over. The duo, however, departed in quick succession; leaving RR sensing trouble at 136/4 in the 14th over. Livingstone was first to depart in the 12th over to Arshdeep while Jaiswal fell prey to Harpreet Brar two overs later.
In at No. 5, unheralded Mahipal Lomror provided temporary relief with a 17-ball 43 that saw him belt four 6s and two 4s before becoming Arshdeep’s third victim of the night in the 17th over.
The flow of runs dried in the last three overs with Arshdeep and Shami teaming up to run through the PBKS lower order. Shami first removed two dangermen Chris Morris (5 off 5) and Rahul Tewatia (2 off 5) in space of four deliveries while Arshdeep took the scalps of Chetan Sakariya (7 off 6) and Kartik Tyagi (1 off 3) in the last over.
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