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KXIP beat RR by 6 wickets | Rajasthan Royals vs Kings XI Punjab, Highlights And Cricket Score 38th T20 Match
Indian Premier League, 2018
Date: May 06, 2018 Start Time: 20:00 IST | 14:30 GMT | 20:00 LocalVenue: Holkar Cricket Stadium, Indore
Kings XI Punjab (KXIP) will aim to bounce back to their winning ways when they take on bottom-placed Rajasthan Royals (RR) at the Holkar Cricket Stadium on Sunday. While Punjab are placed fourth with five wins and three defeats and 10 points, the Ajinkya Rahane-led Rajasthan languishes at the bottom of the league points-table with just three wins from eight games.
With just six points in their kitty, Rajasthan are in a must-win situation with the league just about past the midway point.
Although both teams have suffered two straight defeats each, Punjab have a better chance to book a play-off berth.
Punjab's batting mostly relies on opener Chris Gayle, who has accumulated 302 runs from just five games, averaging 100.66.
Even in their last encounter against Mumbai Indians on Friday, when most of the Punjab batters failed to go big, the self-proclaimed 'Universe Boss' slammed a 40-ball 50, laced with six boundaries and couple of sixes.
In-form opener Lokesh Rahul, who faultered in the game against Mumbai, has been in good form, amassing 292 runs from eight games.
The Punjab openers have been a major reason behind their success as the duo have handed a perfect start to their side on several occassions in this year's edition.
Karun Nair has also been impressive after 209 runs from seven innings but veteran Yuvraj Singh, Aaron Finch and Mayank Agarwal are yet to make their presence felt in the middle-order.
The trio's poor form could be a cause of concern for the team management and this is high time for them to come out with their best.
In the bowling department, skipper Ravichandran Ashwin, along with medium-pacer Mohit Sharma add depth to the line-up.
Also, pacers Barinder Sran and Andrew Tye, and Afghan spinner Mujeeb ur Rahman shoulder the bulk of the responsibility.
While Australian Tye has 10 wickets from eight games with an economy of 7.90, pacer Ankit Rajpoot and Mujeeb Ur Rahman have seven and nine wickets each.
On the other hand, Rajasthan Royals have experienced a topsy-turvy campaign so far.
With the IPL entering its business end, skipper Rahane will expect his team to get their act together and aim for consistency.
In their previous match, Rajasthan fell short against Delhi Daredevils by just four runs in a rain-affected tie.
Rahane and Samson have been their best batsmen this season but inconsistent run of Ben Stokes and Jos Butler has affected their performance this season.
Among the bowlers, young seamer Jofra Archer have done well to claim seven wickets from just three matches while this IPL's costliest buy Jaydev Unadkat have also been amongst the wickets.
Rajasthan's main concern will be the form of their spinners -- Shreyas Gopal and K. Gowtham -- who have so far failed to hunt as a pair.
While Gopal has six wickets from seven games, Gowtham has bagged five wickets from eight matches.
Rajasthan couldn't afford another defeat from here as it would almost crush their dream of a play-off berth.
The squads:
Rajasthan Royals: Ben Stokes, Stuart Binny, Sanju Samson, Jos Buttler (Wicket-keeper), Rahul Tripathi, D Arcy Short, Krishnappa Gowtham, Jofra Archer, Dhawal Kulkarni, Jaydev Unadkat, Ankit Sharma, Anureet Singh, Shreyas Gopal, Prashant Chopra, Sudhesan Midhun, Ben Laughlin, Mahipal Lomror, Aryaman Birla, Jatin Saxena, Dushmantha Chameera, Ajinkya Rahane(Captain), Heinrich Klaasen, Ish Sodhi.
Kings XI Punjab: Axar Patel, Ravichandran Ashwin (Captain), Yuvraj Singh, Karun Nair, Lokesh Rahul (Wicket-keeper), Chris Gayle, David Miller, Aaron Finch, Marcus Stoinis, Mayank Agarwal, Ankit Rajpoot, Manoj Tiwary, Mohit Sharma, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Barinder Sran, Andrew Tye, Akshdeep Nath, Ben Dwarshuis, Pardeep Sahu, Mayank Dagar, Manzoor Dar.
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Rajasthan Royals vs Kings XI Punjab Highlights And Cricket Score 38th Match - T20 Summary
That's all we have from Super Sunday. Mumbai won their match against Kolkata earlier in the evening to stay alive in the tournament while Punjab broke their 2-match losing run with a convincing win over Rajasthan. Tomorrow, there is a single game coming your way. It will be Hyderabad hosting Bangalore at 2000 IST (1430 GMT). Do join us for all the action. Cheers!
Mujeeb Ur Rahman is adjudged the Man of the Match for his fantastic bowling spell. His figures of 4-0-27-3 bamboozled Rajasthan. The Afghan continues to enjoy a good debut season.
Credit should be given to Rajasthan for trying hard but they didn't have enough runs in the bank. Still, their bowlers fared exceedingly well to create immense pressure but towards the end, they gave it away. Till the second strategic break, the visitors were in with a chance but Stoinis and Rahul changed gears after that to earn an easy win. So, the hundred percent record for a chasing team winning in Indore remains in tact.
Just when it seemed that the pair of Rahul and Nair will run away with the show, Anureet Singh struck to send the latter back to the pavilion. The promotion of Axar Patel didn't go as per the plan for Punjab but the presence of KL Rahul in the middle meant that they were always hopeful. Eventually, he got an ally in Marcus Stoinis and together they overhauled the target with 8 balls to spare.
It wasn't a usual dashing performance upfront by Punjab in their innings. In fact, it was a subdued one. Chris Gayle and Mayank Agarwal departed in quick succession and the hosts ended up with their lowest Powerplay score of the season. Rajasthan had the upper hand at that stage of the match but the combination of Rahul and Nair raised a fifty stand to keep the chase on track.
Done and dusted in style! Take a bow, KL Rahul! Tremendous batting effort by the opener. So far in this season, he provided brisk starts to his team and today showed his other side of the game as he anchored this chase and steered Punjab closer to the playoff berth. Rajasthan will be deeply disappointed at the moment as once again they failed to cross the line. Their season is just refusing to take off after a promising start.
Jofra Archer to Lokesh Rahul. FOUR! That is it! Game, set and match! Low full toss on the stumps, Rahul takes a stride ahead and unfurls a classical drive on the up through the covers. Once again timing and placement were exquisite from Rahul and the ball speeds away to the boundary. The Punjab dugout roars in delight as they WIN BY 6 WICKETS AND 8 BALLS TO SPARE!
Jofra Archer to Lokesh Rahul. Short of a length ball on the pads and Rahul tucks it square on to the leg side. They take two runs.
Jofra Archer to Lokesh Rahul. SIX! Biggie! Super shot, Rahul wants to finish this game quickly! This one is pitched right in the slot and Rahul hammers it in emphatic style over the bowler's head for a maximum. Holds the pose as well. Stand and deliver stuff!
Jofra Archer to Lokesh Rahul. Full pitch delivery on the stumps and Rahul bunts it down the ground to long off. They take a couple more. Punjab just a couple of hits away from a win!
Jaydev Unadkat to Marcus Stoinis. Unadkat finishes with a dot. Full pitch delivery on the stumps, it is much slower in pace. Stoinis waits back and defends. 12 from 12 needed, Punjab should get over the line with absolute ease from this position.
Jaydev Unadkat to Lokesh Rahul. Full pitch delivery, Rahul closes the face of the bat as he looks to flick that. The ball goes off the leading edge to backward point. They take a run.
Jaydev Unadkat to Lokesh Rahul. FOUR! Well placed and the ball races away to the fence! Too much width on offer and Rahul cuts it past the man at backward point. Fielder dives to his right but he is unable to stop that one.
Jaydev Unadkat to Lokesh Rahul. SIX! SHOT!! Rahul hits the maximum with disdain over the backward square leg fence! Short ball into the pads, he moves inside the line of it and hits it flat over the rope.
Jaydev Unadkat to Lokesh Rahul. Full delivery on the off, Rahul powers it to deep cover. They go for the second run. Unadkat collects the throw from the deep and breaks the stumps but Stoinis is well in!
Jaydev Unadkat to Lokesh Rahul. Good length ball outside off, Rahul backs away and punches it to deep cover for a brace.
Jofra Archer to Marcus Stoinis. Full ball on the pads and Stoinis flicks it to wide long on. Stokes attacks the ball but he isn't quick enough to prevent the second run. 27 needed from 18 balls, required rate has dropped down to nine for Punjab with this big over.
Jofra Archer to Lokesh Rahul. Pitches it full on the stumps and Rahul powers it to long off for a single.
Jofra Archer to Lokesh Rahul. SIX! Cracking shot! Fifty to Rahul, his seventh Indian T20 League fifty! Subdued celebration from the Punjab opener as he is well aware that the job is not done yet! Short of a length ball outside off, Rahul makes room for himself and upper cuts it over third man fence for a maximum.