Cricket Highlights, 20 May: IPL 2023 (Match 66) – Punjab Kings vs Rajasthan Royals

Punjab Kings vs Rajasthan Royals (Match 66) – Highlights

Not only the win, but the margin of victory must also have to be large. Rajasthan Royals (RR) and Punjab Kings (PBKS)—The equation was just like this for both teams to advance in the race for the playoffs. The Royals won by 4 wickets against the Kings in such a match.

Batting first, PBKS collected 187 runs after losing 5 wickets in the stipulated 20 overs. In reply, RR reached the port of victory after losing 6 wickets with 2 balls in hand. Despite not getting a big win, Sanju Samson’s team is still in the race for the playoffs. On the other hand, Shikhar Dhawan’s Punjab Kings are out of the competition for this season.

With 14 points in this victory, the Royals are fifth in the points table. Also, they crossed Mumbai Indians (MI), who have played one game less. Last year’s finalists will now need the help of luck to secure a place in the playoffs. RR will want RCB and MI to get defeated in the last match of both teams. But RCB will not only have to lose, but they will also have to lose against GT by at least 6 runs.

Chasing 188 runs in this important match at Dharamshala, Jos Buttler returned with a personal score of zero runs. With this, Buttler got out for zero runs in three consecutive innings. The English cricketer has returned zero with five times in total this season, which is the most by any batsman in a single season in the IPL. Buttler returned quickly but Yashasvi Jaiswal and Devdutt Padikkal kept the run wheel going on.

For the second wicket, these two made a partnership of 73 runs off 49 balls. When Padikkal returned to the pavilion of 51 off 30 balls with 5 fours and 3 sixes, then captain Samson came to the wicket. But he also could not play an impactful innings. Samson got out with only 2 runs.

Then Jaiswal made a partnership of 47 runs with Shimron Hetmyer. Jaiswal got out after scoring 50 runs off 36 balls. Hetmyer scored 46 runs off 28 balls. Where there were 4 fours and 3 sixes. Thanks to Hetmyer’s innings, RR reached the verge of victory very easily. Moreover, the impact cricketer Dhruv Jurel secured the score of 9 runs in the last over with two balls to spare.

All the bowlers got wickets for PBKS in this match. While Kagiso Rabada took the maximum number of 2 wickets and Rahul Chahar, Nathan Ellis, Arshdeep Singh, and Sam Curran took 1 wicket each.

Basically, PBKS’s playoff chances were only seen on paper. Losing the toss and batting first on the mission to win by a big margin, the Kings lost wickets in the beginning. Opener Prabhsimran Singh returns just 2 runs off Trent Boult. Dhawan had no chance to play a patient innings despite losing the wicket.

Skipper Dhawan and Atharva Taide tried to bat in a T20 mood. But neither of them could make their innings big. Dhawan scored 17 off 12 balls and Atharva scored 19 off 12 balls. Liam Livingstone played a great innings in the last match, but in this game, he scored 9 runs off 13 balls.

Then Sam Curran and Jitesh Sharma’s 64-run partnership gave PBKS dreams of a big collection. Jitesh scored 44 runs off 28 balls. After Jitesh’s return, Curran raised a storm with Shahrukh Khan. The Kings collected 48 runs in the last two overs. Basically, as a result of this, PBKS’s collection stood at 187 runs. Curran remained unbeaten with 49 off 31 balls and Shahrukh scored 41 off 23 balls.

Navdeep Saini took the highest number of 3 wickets for RR. Adam Zampa and Trent Boult took 1 wicket each.

Punjab Kings vs Rajasthan Royals Scoreboard

Punjab Kings – 187/5 (20.0)

Rajasthan Royals – 189/6 (19.4)

Result – Rajasthan Royals won by 4 wickets

Player of the match – Devdutt Padikkal

Rajasthan Royals

Punjab Kings vs Rajasthan Royals Playing XIs