Shimron Hetmyer has supplied the ending touches to Rajasthan Royals’ last-over win towards Punjab Kings in an Indian Premier League thriller.
Punjab wanted 10 runs from the final over, and Hetmyer (27no off 10 balls) held his nerve towards death-bowling specialist Arshdeep Singh on Saturday.
After two dot deliveries, Hetmyer hit six, two and 6 to assist Rajasthan cross the end line with only one ball left.
Rajasthan completed on 7-152, in reply to Punjab’s 8-147, cementing high spot within the league with a 3rd straight win. For the slumping Kings, although, it was a fourth loss in six video games.
Put in to bat, Punjab missed Shikhar Dhawan, and English allrounder Sam Curran stepped in as skipper.
The hosts had been pegged again often by dropping wickets as Rajasthan’s spinners squeezed the scoring charge.
Yuzvendra Chahal took 1-31 in 4 overs and Keshav Maharaj picked up 2-23. Maharaj dismissed Jonny Bairstow (15) and Curran (six) and helped to cut back Punjab to 4-52 in 9.3 overs.
Jitesh Sharma anchored Punjab with 29 off 24 balls, together with two sixes, however it was impression participant Ashutosh Sharma who gave Punjab 147 to defend by scoring 31 off 16 till he was dismissed by Trent Boult (1-22) off the ultimate ball.
Tanush Kotian changed Rajasthan opener Jos Buttler and mixed for 56 runs with Yashasvi Jaiswal, who scored 39 off 28 balls with 4 fours.
Versus Rajasthan’s spin, Punjab’s tempo did the heavy lifting and obtained the very important breakthroughs. Kagiso Rabada dismissed each Jaiswal and in-form skipper Sanju Samson for 18.
Liam Livingstone bowled Kotian as Rajasthan’s chase obtained slowed down at 3-89 within the 14th over.
However at 5-115, Hetmyer and fellow West Indian batter Rovman Powell took cost. Powell’s 11-off-five cameo gave Rajasthan the impetus that Hetmyer used to complete with a flourish of three sixes.
