IPL 2021 Match 4: RR vs PBKS – Match Report
Punjab Kings began their season with a thrilling win in a edge of the seat encounter (RR vs PBKS) against a spirited Rajasthan Royals unit.
Earlier, Rajasthan’s new skipper Sanju Samson won the toss and chose to bowl. Chris Morris, Chetan Sakariya, Shivam Dube, and Mustafizur Rahman debuted for Rajasthan in this match. Jhye Richardson, Shahrukh Khan, and Riley Meredith debuted for Punjab in this match.
In the 3rd over, debutant Chetan Sakariya dismissed Mayank Agarwal, as he intended to hit a lofted shot but had no to little proper connection to the ball and handed it into keeper Sanju Samson’s gloves behind the stumps. Gone for 14 runs from 9 balls including 2 fours. Punjab were 22/1 at this point. Chris Gayle walked in.
In the 7th over Punjab completed their 50 runs by a 4 hit by Rahul off Shreyas Gopal’s bowling. The ball was hit to covers and Ben Stokes went for the catch but unfortunately, it slipped through his hands and landed outside the boundary. Punjab were 51/2 at this point.
In the 9th over KL Rahul and Chris Gayle completed their 50 run partnership in just 36 balls. Rahul scored 26 runs from 19 balls including 4 fours, while Gayle scored 29 runs from 22 balls including 3 fours and 1 six. Punjab were 72/1 at this point.
In the 10th over, Riyan Parag came in to bowl, who at first looked a bit nervous and confused, also almost made an illegal delivery, in the very over dismissed Chris Gayle. He smashed the ball to mid-on but Stokes came forward and took the catch, which also injured his hand by the looks of it. Gone for 40 runs from 28 balls including 4 fours and 2 sixes. Punjab were 89/2 at this point. Deepak Hooda walked in at No.4.
Punjab completed 100 runs in the 11th over via a six hit by KL Rahul off Rahul Tewatia’s bowling. Punjab were 101/2 at this point.
In the 13th over Rahul completed his half-century by hitting a six on Shivam Dube’s ball on 46 runs. He reached 52 runs from 30 balls including 5 fours and 2 sixes. Punjab were 117/2 at this point.
When Deepak came in to bat, the commentators suggested that Pooran should have been sent before him. But In the 14th over KL Rahul and Deepak Hooda completed their 50 run partnership in just 22 balls. In which Rahul scored 5 fours and 2 sixes, while Hooda scored 32 runs from 12 balls including 1 four and 4 sixes. Punjab were 143/2 at this point.
Off the first ball of the 15th over bowled by Mustafizur Rahman, Hooda lofted the ball too high but not too far. Jos Buttler ran behind towards the ball but unfortunately, dropped it. Punjab were 151/2 at this point.
In the 16th over bowled by Chris Morris, Deepak Hooda completed his half-century in 20 balls including 1 four and 6 sixes. Punjab were 170/2 at this point.
In the 18th over bowled by Chris Morris, Hooda and Rahul completed their 100 run partnership from just 46 balls. In this partnership, Rahul scored 40 runs from 19 balls including 5 fours and 4 sixes, while Hooda scored 64 runs from 28 balls including 4 fours and 6 sixes. Punjab were 193/2 at this point. Soon in the same over Hooda gave away his wicket in to the hands of Riyan Parag without him having to put any extra efforts. Gone for 64 runs from 28 balls powered by 4 fours and 6 sixes. In this very over, Morris bowled a short ball which Pooran pulled to a diving Sakariya at short fine leg as he took a diving catch and dismissed Pooran. The third umpire checked the replays and cleared it as a legal catch. Pooran returned to the dugout for a first ball duck with Punjab at 201-4.
The last over was bowled by Chetan Sakariya. The first ball gave Rahul extra room as he smashed the ball to covers for a boundary. The next ball, Rahul intended to hit a boundary but a marvelous catch by Rahul Tewtia sent back him to the dugout. He scored 91 runs from 50 balls including 7 fours and 5 sixes. Punjab were 220/5 at this point. Furthermore, only 1 more run came out from the 3 balls left in the over with the ball providing Arshdeep Richardson’s wicket. Gone for a duck from 2 balls. PBKS scored 221/6 in 20 overs.
RR need to score 222 runs in 20 overs to win.
On the very third ball of the 1st over by Mohammad Shami, Stokes tried to pull the ball but could only connect the upper edge of the bat. The ball flew high in the air while Shami and Rahul collided, but in the end, it was taken by Shami. Gone for a duck, 0 in 3 balls. Rajasthan were 0/1 at this point. Sanju Samson walked in.
Just when Manan Vohra and Sanju Samson were looking good together, Arshdeep Singh came in for the 4th over and caught the very ball he bowled at Manan Vohra as soon as he hit it back hard. Fielding coach Jonty Rhodes was quite impressed with it and was evidently very happy in the dug out! Vohra departed for 12 runs from 8 balls including 1 four and 1 six. Rajasthan were 25/2 at this point. Jos Buttler walked in at no.4.
Riley Meredith was introduced in to the attack by captain KL Rahul in the 5th over. Meredith who was bowling his first ever over in IPL history, got a spanking welcome by Jos Buttler who hit 4 consecutive fours off the first 4 balls of the over! The Aussie pacer conceded 18 runs in his first IPL over as RR powered to 48-2 in 5 overs.
In the 6th over, Rajasthan completed 50 runs after Samson hit a 4 at 48 runs. They were at 52/2 at this point.
In the 8th over debutant Jhye Richardson came in to bowl. On the third ball of the over, he delivered an on-point yorker which Buttler completely missed and got bowled. Gone for 25 runs from 13 balls including 5 fours. Rajasthan were 70/3 at this point.
In the 11th over when Meredith was bowling, Rajasthan completed 100 runs after Sanju hit a six at 96 runs. In that very over he completed his half-century by hitting a four at 49 runs. He reached 53 runs from 33 balls including 7 fours and 2 sixes. Meredith’s next ball hit straight into Sanju’s pads and the Punjab players immediately appealed. The umpire lifted his finger followed by Sanju going for the DRS. The review proved that the wickets were missing and Sanju remained not out. Rajasthan were 109/3 at the end of the over.
On the first ball of the 13th over, Dube smashed Arshdeep for a four and completed his 50 runs partnership with Sanju. Sanju scored 28 runs from 16 balls while Dube scored 23 runs from 15 balls.
In the 13th over, Dube tried to change up gears in Arshdeep’s spell. But to his dissatisfaction, he gave away his wicket straight in to the safe hands of Deepak Hooda at long off. Dube departed for 23 runs from 15 balls including 3 fours. Rajasthan were 123/4 at this point. Riyan Parag walked in.
In the 16th over, Sanju and Parag completed their 50 run partnership in just 19 balls. Sanju scored 26 runs from 11 balls including 9 fours and 4 sixes. Parag scored 25 runs from 9 balls including 1 four and 3 sixes. Rajasthan were 173/4 at this point.
In the 17th over, Shami came in to bowl and on the 2nd ball of the over, delivered a bouncer which Parag didn’t expect. He tried to pull it but got a glove on it instead and the ball was caught by Rahul behind the stumps. Gone for 25 runs from 11 balls. Rajasthan were 175/5 at this point.
In the 18th over when Jhye Richardson was bowling, Sanju Samson completed his century in this match by hitting a four at 98 runs. He became the first player to score a century this season and first player to score a century on his first match as a captain in the IPL. He reached 102 runs from 54 balls including 12 fours and 5 sixes. Rajasthan were at 197/5.
On the first ball of the 19th over Rahul Tewatia got dismissed by Meredith’s delivery as Rahul caught behind the stumps via a big outside edge from Tewatia’s wood. Gone for 2 runs from 4 balls. Rajasthan were 201/6 at this point.
8 runs were scored in the 19th over along with the wicket of Rahul Tewatia. RR now needed 13 runs in 6 balls to win.
Arshdeep Singh was chosen for the last over with Sanju on strike. The first ball was a dot and just a single off the next. The 3rd ball was a single again which brought Sanju back on strike with RR needing 11 to win in 3 balls. Samson struck a maximum, which changed the tune of the game. 5 runs needed from 2 balls now and the next ball a dot – Samson hit the ball to long off and denied to run with Chris Morris clearly puzzled by Samson’s decision. 5 were needed from 1 and the Sanju lofted it high and it seemed like it had the distance too, not until, Deepak Hooda caught it and the Punjab Kings celebrated and ran towards Singh.
An absolute thriller for a finish indeed. PBKS won by 4 runs.
Match Summary:
Punjab Kings: 221/6 (20)
KL Rahul 91 (50)
Deepak Hooda 64 (28)
Chris Gayle 40 (28)
Chetan Sakariya 3/31 (4)
Chris Morris 2/41 (4)
Riyan Parag 1/7 (1)
Rajasthan Royals: 217/7 (20)
Sanju Samson 119 (63)
Riyan Parag 25 (11)
Jos Buttler 25 (13)
Arshdeep Singh 3/35 (4)
Mohammad Shami 2/33 (4)
Riley Meredith 1/49 (4)
Man Of The Match: Sanju Samson 119 (63)
