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RR beat KXIP by 15 runs | Rajasthan Royals vs Kings XI Punjab, Highlights And Cricket Score 40th T20 Match
Indian Premier League, 2018
Date: May 08, 2018 Start Time: 20:00 IST | 14:30 GMT | 20:00 LocalVenue: Sawai Mansingh Stadium, Jaipur
Languishing at the bottom of the table, Rajasthan Royals need nothing less than a miracle to remain in contention for the IPL Play-offs when they take on Kings XI Punjab in a do-or-die battle. Three consecutive defeats have more or less sealed their fate and for things to turn around for the Royals, every aspect of their game needs to improve and click for them. They are taking on Punjab, placed third in the table, just a day after losing to them by six wickets in Indore, where neither the bowlers nor the batsmen could do a convincing job.
Nothing has gone right for the winners of the inaugural edition of the IPL, who lost their pillar -- Australian Steven Smith -- to ball-tampering scandal.
The lackluster performance by their batsmen and bowlers have landed them in a position where they need to win all their remaining games and also pray for favourable results in order to qualify for the play-offs.
The hosts are back on their home turf, where they have recorded two of their three victories, but they need to start afresh. Three consecutive defeats, including a narrow one against Delhi Daredevils, has left them demoralised and their mentor, the legendary Shane Warne, too wore a dejected look in the dugout from where he saw the Royals miss out on half chances.
Average performance by captain Ajinkya Rahane and below-par show of English all-rounder Ben Stokes and Rahul Tripathi has hurt them badly and the hosts need all these batsmen to fire.
West Indian bowler Jofra Archer, though, has been impressive and the only saving grace for them while expensive pacer Jaydev Unadkat has been a complete let-down, taking just seven wickets at a poor 9.86 economy rate.
On the other hand, the visitors are back to winning ways after an emphatic triumph over the Royals and would look to consolidate their position in the top-four. Punjab can even take the second place if they win tomorrow, provided they improve their NRR.
Though they rely heavily on good partnerships between Chris Gayle and KL Rahul the likes of Mayank Agarwal, Karun Nair and Marcus Stoinis have been able to contribute handsomely. Their bowling too has the variety with old warhorse R. Ashwin, Axar Patel and the new sensation from Afghanistan, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, proving more than handful for the opponent.
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Rajasthan Royals vs Kings XI Punjab Highlights And Cricket Score 40th Match - T20 Summary
Right, we're done and dusted here. Rajasthan bag two vital points, move to 6th place and also make it a clean 5-0 record at home against Punjab. A good night for them. Punjab suffer a defeat against the home side in the return fixture, they are still third but they'd like to improve certain areas. Moving on, the next game is between Kolkata and Mumbai at the Eden Gardens on 9th May at 2000 local (1430 GMT). Do join in for that. Cheers!
Jos Buttler is declared as the Man of the Match. His 82 off 58 was instrumental in Rajasthan getting off to a flying start and eventually, getting a total which proved to be good enough for a win.
Rajasthan were right on the money with the ball. They needed early wickets with a total just about par, and they got just that as Krishnappa Gowtham provided a double breakthrough in a single over. The rest then chipped in as the game went on. What they did best though, was that despite Rahul scoring, they kept the other end tight and eventually got the rewards for it. A special mention for Jofra Archer, he was stupendous in the death with this yorkers and ensured the hitting to be done came too little too late. A good, clinical effort from the hosts, they needed this performance and the win.
Spare a thought for KL Rahul. He was the lone man standing for Punjab as he fell 5 short of what would have been an impressive ton. With a target of 159 to chase, the visitors didn't get off to the best of starts. Lost three wickets inside the Powerplay and most of the damage was done then and there. The rest who followed after that, couldn't hang around long enough as wickets kept falling at regular intervals. Rahul was the only one to put up a real fight, but he alone could not get the job done.
Jaydev Unadkat to Lokesh Rahul. FOUR! Another boundary, but RAJASTHAN WIN BY 15 RUNS! Rahul carries his bat through but it goes in vain. Unleashes the reverse paddle to find the third man fence, is left stranded on 95. Heartbreak for him.
Jaydev Unadkat to Lokesh Rahul. FOUR! Boundary, all but over now though. Full and outside off, Rahul brings out the reverse paddle and clears short third man's head to send it across the rope.
Jaydev Unadkat to Lokesh Rahul. Technically a dropped, but such a difficult chance. Full on the stumps, Rahul hammers it right back at Unadkat. He tries to catch it but takes a blow on his forearm. No run taken.
Jaydev Unadkat to Lokesh Rahul. SIX! Makes full use of it. It's full and outside off, Rahul gets behind the ball and launches it over wide long off for a maximum. This is now his highest score in this edition of the Indian T20 League.
Jaydev Unadkat to Lokesh Rahul. No ball! High full toss from Jaydev, Rahul walks across the line to paddle scoop it, but only inside edges it towards square leg. No run taken, he wants to face the Free Hit coming up now.
Jaydev Unadkat to Andrew Tye. Full in length, attacking the stumps, Tye drills it towards mid on for a single.
Jaydev Unadkat to Marcus Stoinis. OUT! Stoinis has to make the long walk back! Low full toss wide outside off, Stoinis carves this over covers. Hits it flat and that becomes his undoing. Straight to Gowtham out in the deep who takes it above his head. Holds a cool pose too as he puts the ball in his pocket and stands there with his arms folded. Lovely.
Jofra Archer to Lokesh Rahul. FOUR! Three in a row. Once more, goes across and lifts it over short fine leg to find the fence. 32 required off the last over. Too much left probably for Punjab to do.
Jofra Archer to Lokesh Rahul. FOUR! Consecutive boundaries for KL! Fuller around off, Rahul goes across and scoops it over short fine leg for a boundary.
Jofra Archer to Lokesh Rahul. FOUR! Good adjustment from KL Rahul. Credit to Archer too, he did well actually. Seeing Rahul walk across the stumps, he bowls it wide outside off. Rahul prepares for the paddle at first, but then quickly adjusts and slaps it through mid off. Unadkat gives it the chase, but can't keep it in. Boundary.
Jofra Archer to Lokesh Rahul. Archer and yorkers - a better love story than Twilight. Superb. Fires it in, on the stumps this time, Rahul works it through mid-wicket and gets a couple of runs for it.
Jofra Archer to Marcus Stoinis. Another yorker from Archer, outside the line of off stump, Marcus digs it out in front of cover and brings Rahul on strike.
Jofra Archer to Lokesh Rahul. Slower length delivery just outside off, Rahul walks across his sticks and sweeps it over backward square leg. The fielder in the deep comes inside and restricts the single to just the one.