Rahul Tewatia(51 off 31 balls) hit five sixes in an over after Sanju Samson(85 off 42) and Steve Smith(50 off 27) hit sparkling fifties as Rajasthan Royals chased down the highest ever total of IPL to beat Kings XI Punjab by 4 wickets in Sharjah. Earlier, Mayank Agarwal scored his maiden IPL ton off 45 balls and KL Rahul scored 69 as their record opening partnership propelled Kings XI Punjab to 223 for 2 after being sent in to bat first by Rajasthan Royals captain Steve Smith who won the toss and opted to bowl first. Buttler and Ankit Rajpoot came in place of Yashasvi Jaiswal and David Miller. KXIP went in with an unchanged squad.

Highlights

Jofra Archer to Pooran, SIXswatted, too short from Archer and Pooran has swatted it away, cleared his right leg and thumped the pull over mid-wicket, went flat and hit the advertising board on the full. KXIP finish with a season high – 223 for 219.3

Jofra Archer to Pooran, FOURa six and now a four, length delivery outside off, Pooran backs away and scythes the cut behind square on the off-side, no chance for anyone to stop it19.2

Jofra Archer to Pooran, SIX, Pooran is putting on a big finish – once again he didn’t look to have timed it, but had enough to clear long-off and by a long way – good length delivery and Archer disappears19

Tom Curran to Pooran, 2 runs, that went high and into the night sky – and Uthappa has made a royal mess of it – was always going to be a tough catch, but he didn’t even get in any position – Pooran got underneath the length delivery and popped it straight up – Uthappa has plenty of time to settle, but he didn’t and ends up shelling it18.5

Tom Curran to Pooran, SIXhammered, Curran loses his line for once, the attempted yorker turns out to be a full-toss, heaved high and over mid-wicket for a maximum18

Rajpoot to Rahul, out Caught by Shreyas Gopal!! A deserved wicket for Rajpoot – he has come back well after that initial hammering. RR are pulling things back a touch in the last three or four overs. This was full and wide of off, KL was looking to go over cover, swung his bat ferociously and only managed a thick slice. The ball travelled all the way to third man, Shreyas was under it, looked calm as he took it low and in front of him. Rahul c Shreyas Gopal b Rajpoot 69(54) [4s-7 6s-1]17.3

Rajpoot to Maxwell, FOURlovely, full and wide of off, would have been called as a wide had Maxwell let it go – he reached out, played with an open face and sliced it over backward point, almost went all the way, bounced just in front of the ropes17.2

Rajpoot to Maxwell, FOUR, Maxwell can be dangerous in this situation – he has the full license to go after the bowling, stays deep in the crease and that means this good length delivery sits up to him, heaved away over mid-wicket for a boundary16.3

Tom Curran to Agarwal, out Caught by Samson!! That’s the end of a truly stunning knock from Mayank – gets a big thumbs-up from his captain as he walks back. This was right in the slot, full and at his pads, he cleared his left leg on the shovel over mid-wicket got too much under it and scooped it high and into the hands of deep mid-wicket. Samson under the ball and he was never going to drop it. Agarwal c Samson b Tom Curran 106(50) [4s-10 6s-7]16.2

Tom Curran to Agarwal, FOURMayank is on a roll tonight, length delivery outside off, he gets under it and thumps it back over the bowler’s head, beats the fielder running to his right from long-off15

Shreyas Gopal to Agarwal, FOURmaiden IPL hundred for Mayank – no wonder he looks absolutely thrilled, he’s in some batting form in the last 2-3 years and this could be his year in the cash-rich tournament. The leg-break from Shreyas – but it’s woefully short and wide of off – Mayank reaches out and clobbers it over cover, no chance for the fielder running to his left from long-off14.1

Shreyas Gopal to Rahul, FOUR, desperate attempt in the deep, but it’s not been RR’s night so far – the leg-break and KL was playing against the turn as he pulled – didn’t get hold of the shot, was in the air for a long time – the fielder at deep mid-wicket ran across to his right, put in the dive, but the ball was always going away from him14

Jofra Archer to Agarwal, FOURMayank shows he can match-up with KL as well – doesn’t want to get left behind, the slower ball from Archer, but the short ball doesn’t rise as much as Archer wanted, Mayank swivels across and helps it on its way, well wide of backward square leg and runs away to the ropes13.4

Jofra Archer to Rahul, FOURstylish and four, typical calypso pull from KL – banged in short and it didn’t rise as much as Archer wanted – Rahul swivels across, rolls his wrists and pulls it past square leg for a boundary13.2

Jofra Archer to Agarwal, 3 runs, beautifully played, tad too full and at the stumps, Mayank makes room and then places the drive in front of cover – long chase for Samson in the deep and he does well to stop the ball with the slide, can’t prevent the third run though, brings up the 150-run stand12.3

Shreyas Gopal to Agarwal, SIXmagnificent, loopy leg-break from Shreyas and it’s all too easy for a man in form, Mayank reaches out, plays with an open face and sends it high and over extra cover for a maximum, played with the spin and the timing was superb12

Tom Curran to Agarwal, FOURcracking shot, Mayank is finding the gaps with ease and on these short boundaries, it invariably runs away to the ropes, width on offer and he delayed the cut – placed it in front of square on the off-side and beat the fielder at backward point11.5

Tom Curran to Rahul, 1 run, much better from Rahul, very full and angling back into the right-hander, punched in front of mid-off and they scamper across for a quick single – brings up another fifty for KL11.4

Tom Curran to Rahul, FOURlovely, KL is having it all too easy at the moment – wide half-volley from Curran, KL reaches out, opens the face of the bat at the last moment and slices it over backward point for a boundary11.1

Tom Curran to Rahul, SIX, too predictable from Curran – attempts the slower ball, but it’s right in the slot for KL as he slugs it over mid-wicket, soars over the ropes for a maximum10.2

Unadkat to Agarwal, FOURugly and four, length ball outside off and Mayank couldn’t hold himself back, went on a big swipe over mid-wicket, gets a thick edge over backward point and runs away to the ropes9.3

Tom Curran to Agarwal, FOUR, no stopping Agarwal today! A short ball by Curran and it has been hooked through square leg by Agarwal as he manages to beat the sprinter in the deep8.4

Shreyas Gopal to Agarwal, SIX100 up for Kings XI Punjab! Agarwal shimmies down the track and tonks it over the bowler’s head for a maximum. Entertaining display of batting by the Punjab openers..8.2

Shreyas Gopal to Agarwal, SIXfifty for Agarwal! A tossed up legbreak on off and it has been lofted over long-off for a clean six. Such a superb knock this is proving to be. His skipper likes it too..7.4

Rahul Tewatia to Agarwal, FOUR, Tewatia taken to the cleaners. A short ball by Rahul Tewatia and it has been pulled over mid-wicket by Agarwal, dealing with fours and sixes at the moment is Mayank7.3

Rahul Tewatia to Agarwal, SIX, smoked down the ground! Agarwal goes down on his knee and pumps it right over the bowler’s head for six more, huge one!7.2

Rahul Tewatia to Agarwal, SIX, short ball goes the distance. Agarwal rocks back in his crease and pulls it over deep square leg for half a dozen. Just cleared the fence as Curran couldn’t get there5

Rajpoot to Rahul, FOURraining boundaries in Sharjah! Width on offer as Rajpoot bowls a length ball outside off and Rahul flays the free-hit with disdain. Played uppishly over covers for four runs4.3

Rajpoot to Agarwal, FOUR50 up for Kings XI Punjab! Just in the 5th over as Agarwal nurdles it off his back foot past the man at short third man. Sublime timing and placement by Agarwal on that occasion4.2

Rajpoot to Agarwal, FOURshort and punished! Treks back in his crease and clubs the short ball over mid-wicket as the ball finds the fence in no time. Can’t bowl short at such slow pace3.3

Jofra Archer to Rahul, FOUR, hat-trick of boundaries for KL Rahul. Full and wide outside off, Rahul throws his hands it and slices it over backward point for the third successive boundary of the over3.2

Jofra Archer to Rahul, FOUR, two in two. Goes full again does Jofra Archer and the Punjab skipper greets him again. On his front foot to drill this half-volley through cover-point for four more3.1

Jofra Archer to Rahul, FOUR, welcome into the attack Mr. Archer. What a glorious drive by Rahul as the bowler feeds him with a slower length ball. On his front foot is the batsman as he caresses it through covers with impeccable timing2.5

Unadkat to Agarwal, SIXthat’s the 100th six of IPL 2020. Just in the 9th game as Agarwal pulls the short ball over deep square leg for a clean six. Wake up call for Unadkat who shakes his head in disappointment2.1

Unadkat to Agarwal, FOUR, Agarwal has been aggressive upfront, like always. Gets hold of the short one and pulls it over mid-wicket as the ball finds the fence after a couple of bounces1.3

Rajpoot to Agarwal, SIX, that’s the kind of form Mayank is in! A length ball around off, the opener backs away and tonks it over long-off for half-a-dozen. Clean as a whistle, believe me!

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CS SURBHI SAXENA

About
Surbhi Saxena edits the daily Current Affairs News.
The author is qualified member of The Institute of Company Secretaries of India (ICSI).