| 0.0 : Hello one and all! Even though the Indian T20 League began with Bangalore playing Chennai, the real controversies and the competitive nature of the League all began with this very fixture. Rajasthan had hosted Punjab and were coasting to an easy win while chasing 180-odd but then the 'Mankad' of Buttler happened. Ravichandran Ashwin and his Punjab side managed to change the momentum with that and win the game, but the method used by tonight's home side skipper came under the radar. |
| With revenge surely on their minds, Rajasthan head to Mohali and will be looking to post their second win on the trot, after coming off a morale-boosting win against Mumbai. The hosts, on the other hand, have lost their last two games and desperately seek to avoid what happened last year when their second half of the League phase went haywire and they ended up not being able to qualify. Two teams, both desperate for a win, the away side even more. Should be a cracker and the toss could play quit |
| PITCH REPORT - The pitch has a little bit of grass, should have good runs, says Kevin Pietersen from the studio itself. He also reminds us that it is a big ground and it is a kind of a fortress for the hosts, while also being intimidating for the visiting batsmen. |
| TOSS - Ajinkya Rahane calls heads and it is heads. Rajasthan win the toss and elect to bowl first. |
| Rajasthan skipper, Ajinkya Rahane says the wicket looks dry and the team chasing has done well. Tells that statistics is a different thing and it is important to play good cricket for the 40 overs and it is a funny game. Informs Ashton Turner makes his debut, Ish Sodhi and Stuart Binny come in. Tells that it is very difficult to leave Steven Smith out of the squad as he is a very good player but only 4 overseas can play. Admits the win against Mumbai was a good one chasing 190-odd. |
| Punjab skipper, Ravichandran Ashwin says that they were looking to field as well and also mentions that they are playing 3 spinners, so he wanted to make best use of the driest possible conditions. He also hopes that the dew stays away even though there is a bit of cloud cover overhead. When asked about team changes, he mentions he is sad that a last-minute injury to Moises Henriques has disrupted their plans of bringing him in today. He informs us that Punjab have 3 changes - David Miller comin |
| Punjab Playing XI - Lokesh Rahul, Chris Gayle, Mayank Agarwal, David Miller (in), Mandeep Singh, Nicholas Pooran (WK), Ravichandran Ashwin (C), Murugan Ashwin, Mohammed Shami, Mujeeb Ur Rahman (in), Arshdeep Singh (in). |
| Rajasthan Playing XI - Ajinkya Rahane (C), Jos Buttler, Sanju Samson (WK), Rahul Tripathi, Ashton Turner (in), Stuart Binny (in), Jofra Archer, Shreyas Gopal, Jaydev Unadkat, Dhawal Kulkarni, Ish Sodhi (in). |
| The men who matter are out in the middle. Ajinkya Rahane ensures all his men are exactly where he wants them to be. Chris Gayle and KL Rahul are the openers for Punjab, whereas Dhawal Kulkarni has the new ball in his hands for the visiting side. Surely this one is going to be a hard-fought game, where neither team would want to give an inch. All set for ball 1, here we go... |
| 0.1 : D Kulkarni to L Rahul, Good ball to start off with but played well too. On a length just outside off, Rahul takes a nice big stride ahead and defends the ball to extra cover. |
| 0.2 : D Kulkarni to L Rahul, Quick single. A length ball on middle, pushed a little to the right of mid on by Rahul and a single is taken. Good to see Gayle respond to that one. |
| 0.3 : D Kulkarni to C Gayle, On the money to the lefty as well. Just outside off on a length and the ball holds its line as Gayle lets it go past him. |
| 0.4 : D Kulkarni to C Gayle, Left alone outside off once more as there was a little shape on that ball and it went away from Gayle. |
| 0.5 : D Kulkarni to C Gayle, Another similar delivery, closer to Gayle's off stump this time. The ball is eased away with an angled bat for a single down to third man. |
| 0.6 : D Kulkarni to L Rahul, Excellent over first up. The final ball is also on a length and on top of off stump. Defended from the crease by Rahul. |
| Jaydev Unadkat to bowl from the other end. |
| 1.1 : J Unadkat to C Gayle, Good ball just outside off, Gayle lets the ball come onto his bat as he plays it towards cover-point. |
| 1.2 : J Unadkat to C Gayle, Slightly back of a length and just outside off, it is met with by the straight bat of Gayle. The ball rolls towards mid off. |
| 1.3 : J Unadkat to C Gayle, Another one on the money, no room allowed here for Gayle so far to free his arms. Defended off the back foot by the big Jamaican. |
| 1.4 : J Unadkat to C Gayle, SIX! Misjudgement and it could prove really costly. Was in the air for literally ages and Archer was never looking comfortable there. The bouncer from Unadkat, Gayle wanted to hook it away but was not in control of the ball. He ended up top edging it and the ball flew towards fine leg. Archer there in the deep failed to settle down and ended up circling under the ball all the while before finally missing the ball. It dropped just over the rope. Huge miss for the away s |
| 1.5 : J Unadkat to C Gayle, SIX! This time it is off the middle of the bat. A back of a length ball, Gayle stands tall and swats it right back over wide long on for a biggie. 12 in two balls. |
| 1.6 : J Unadkat to C Gayle, On a short length outside off, dabbed down to short third man by Gayle. After a good start to the over, Unadkat ends up conceding 12 runs. |
| 2.1 : D Kulkarni to L Rahul, Pushed confidently to extra cover by Rahul to this ball on a length outside off. |
| 2.2 : D Kulkarni to L Rahul, Good bowling this from Unadkat. Rahul defends this one on a length outside off from the crease. |
| 2.3 : D Kulkarni to L Rahul, Wristy shot to deep square leg to pick up a single this time. |
| 2.4 : D Kulkarni to C Gayle, Well stopped by the keeper! A slower one, read late by Chris Gayle. He adjusts and tries to run it off the face of the bat past the keeper. Almost succeeds but Samson dives to his left and makes a great stop. Saves 4 runs! |
| 2.5 : D Kulkarni to C Gayle, FOUR! This one won't be stopped. Really poor bowling this, while the deep fielders are on the leg side, Kulkarni bowls this full outside off. Gayle gets a thick edge that takes the ball past a diving short third man. The big man has his eyes in one would feel and is going after the bowling now. |
| 2.6 : D Kulkarni to C Gayle, A defensive stroke to end this over from Dhawal. A decent one for Rajasthan, just 5 off it in the end. |
| Jofra Archer is the first bowling change for Rajasthan. |
| 3.1 : J Archer to L Rahul, Good length delivery on middle and off, Rahul leans across to get behind the line and works it in front of square leg for a single. |
| 3.2 : J Archer to C Gayle, The timing on that is superb but it's straight to the fielder. Full and wide outside off, Gayle opens the face and drives it sweetly to the cover-point fielder. |
| 3.3 : J Archer to C Gayle, Shaping away again, from outside off, Gayle opens the bat face and steers it to third man for a single. |
| 3.4 : J Archer to L Rahul, Back of a length, angling in on leg, nudged directly to the fielder positioned in front of square leg. |
| 3.5 : J Archer to L Rahul, Moves inside the line of this one, closes the face and works it to short mid-wicket. |
| 3.6 : J Archer to L Rahul, Fine over from Jofra Archer. Conceded just 2 runs from his first. He offers some room outside off, Rahul cuts but can't beat Buttler at cover who dives to his right to stop it. |
| 4.1 : D Kulkarni to C Gayle, Full in length and outside off, some movement away, Chris Gayle drives it to covers. The batsmen run across and take a quick single. There is a shy at the bowler's end which misses. |
| 4.2 : D Kulkarni to L Rahul, Behind a good length, on the fourth stump line, KL forces the punch to the cover fielder. Dot ball. |
| 4.3 : D Kulkarni to L Rahul, Finds the gap but there is a man out there. Kulkarni offers a bit of room outside off as he lands it on a length, Rahul cuts it through point. One run to the total. |
| 4.4 : D Kulkarni to C Gayle, FOUR! Nicely timed. Shortish delivery around off, not much room to work with but that's the power of Chris Gayle. He cuts it hard through point and finds the fence. |
| 4.5 : D Kulkarni to C Gayle, SIX! He's cheeky as well. We're used to his brute force, but he has this side to his game as well. Bumper on off, Gayle just uses the pace on the delivery and ramps it over the keeper's head and the third man boundary for a maximum. |
| 4.6 : D Kulkarni to C Gayle, Taps this down in front of point and scampers across to complete the run. 13 off the over, a good one for Punjab. |
| 5.1 : J Archer to C Gayle, Pacy! On a length on middle, Gayle wanted to slog that over long on and goes through with the shot. The ball goes off the inside edge and runs to short fine leg. |
| 5.2 : J Archer to C Gayle, Defended off the front foot by CG presenting the full face of the bat. |
| 5.3 : J Archer to C Gayle, FOUR BYES! Archer is not impressed. That was an excellent delivery that had the batsman beaten all ends up but he ends up conceding a boundary. A slower short of a length ball, Gayle was foxed by it and is early into the pull. The keeper, Samson though fails to collect the ball or even get a hand on it. |
| 5.4 : J Archer to C Gayle, OUT! The frustration does not last for long! Archer has got the big man! Huge breakthrough. A back of a length delivery closer to the off stump and slightly shaping away from the lefty. Gayle looks to run it down to third man but the touch is too soft and the ball just goes off the shoulder of the blade and to the keeper who makes no mistake this time. The extra bounce did the trick there! Archer and the whole Rajasthan side is pumped up. |
| Mayank Agarwal walks in at no.3. |
| 5.5 : J Archer to M Agarwal, Worked away wristily off the hips for a single to deep square leg. Off the mark straightaway, is Agarwal. |
| 5.6 : J Archer to L Rahul, Pushed back to mid on by Rahul to this fuller length ball. Punjab are 39/1 at the end of the Powerplay. |
| Ish Sodhi is now into the attack. |
| 6.1 : Ish Sodhi to M Agarwal, Slower through the air outside off, pushed towards cover for a single by Agarwal. |
| 6.2 : Ish Sodhi to L Rahul, Fuller and flighted outside off this time, driven away to deep cover for another run, this time off the blade of Rahul. |
| 6.3 : Ish Sodhi to M Agarwal, Sodhi goes slightly shorter now, Agarwal rocks back and pulls this away wide of long on for a couple. |
| 6.4 : Ish Sodhi to M Agarwal, SIX! Clean strike. Flighted on middle and off by Sodhi, Agarwal keeps a nice, firm base and then goes through the line as he hits the ball right over the head of the bowler for a maximum. Excellent shot. |
| 6.5 : Ish Sodhi to M Agarwal, Good batting. Single to follow the boundary ball. Flighted outside off, Agarwal tries to cut the ball late but fails to pincer the gap between backward point and short third man. A single is taken though as the stop is not a clean one. The 50 comes up for Punjab. |
| 6.6 : Ish Sodhi to L Rahul, Oooh! Almost a wicket. Shorter and darted through, Rahul looks to pull it away but ends up inside edging that one onto the pads. The ball rolls towards cover. |
| Shreyas Gopal to roll his arm over. |
| 7.1 : S Gopal to M Agarwal, Agarwal wristily drives this through the covers. One run added to the total. |
| 7.2 : S Gopal to L Rahul, Patted calmly off the back foot towards the off side for a run. |
| 7.3 : S Gopal to M Agarwal, FOUR! Good effort from the fielder in the deep but the ball trickles to the rope and ends up as a boundary. Short one on middle, pulled away wide of deep mid-wicket to his left, Binny runs and tries to stop the ball with a dive but unfortunately cannot keep it in. |
| 7.4 : S Gopal to M Agarwal, SIX! This one is even better. A flighted one outside off, Mayank goes right back over the head of the bowler. The ball flies over the rope at long off. Great batting this by the batsman who has just come in moments back. |
| 7.5 : S Gopal to M Agarwal, Pulled away off the middle of the bat for a single to deep mid-wicket. A single only this time as the ball finds the fielder. |
| 7.6 : S Gopal to L Rahul, Defended from the crease by Rahul towards cover. 13 runs off Gopal's first. |
| Strategic break! Brilliant batting so far from the newcomer Mayank Agarwal, who came in to replace Gayle who looked good as long as he was out there in the middle. His opening partner, Rahul though has looked scratchy and will be really happy that his current partner is going really strong. Rajasthan, on the other hand, will want more wickets to keep the run rate under check. |
| 8.1 : Ish Sodhi to M Agarwal, Short and flat on the stumps, Agarwal pulls it with a little swivel to deep mid-wicket for a single. |
| 8.2 : Ish Sodhi to L Rahul, Fraction straight in line, it's turned through mid-wicket once more. For just a single this time. |
| 8.3 : Ish Sodhi to M Agarwal, Some air given on this, fuller on middle, Agarwal works it in front of square leg and takes off. Runs the first one hard so is able to come back for the second. |
| 8.4 : Ish Sodhi to M Agarwal, OUT! High in the air and Agarwal is gone! He was looking good out there, but has to walk back now. Tossed up quite slow through the air, on middle stump, the batsman gets low and looks to go big once again downtown, as he has so many times already. This time, however, he skies it towards long on where Jofra Archer gets under the ball and takes a very good catch. |
| David Miller next in. |
| 8.5 : Ish Sodhi to L Rahul, Quite full and attacking the stumps, it's kept out off the front foot on the leg side. A quick run is pinched. |
| 8.6 : Ish Sodhi to D Miller, A stifled appeal for an lbw, but that's never going to be given. The leg break on leg, turning in, catches Miller on the front pad as he attempts to flick it away. End of a successful over from Sodhi. |
| 9.1 : S Gopal to L Rahul, Quite slow through the air, some nice shape on it. Drifts in first before turning away. Rahul with the full face pushes it to long off and gets off strike. |
| 9.2 : S Gopal to D Miller, Straighter one on middle and off, slightly quicker in pace, Miller wrists it down to long on for one run. |
| 9.3 : S Gopal to L Rahul, Flighted delivery around off, eased through to the long off fielder for one more. |
| 9.4 : S Gopal to D Miller, Nice connection on that. Full and around off from around the wicket, Miller kneels down and sweeps it through backward square leg. Just a single though as there is a fielder in the deep. |
| 9.5 : S Gopal to L Rahul, Turning away from the batsman, just outside off, KL plants his front foot forward, opens his body and drives it through covers. Big gap out there, so two runs are collected. |
| 9.6 : S Gopal to L Rahul, Uses the depth of the crease to go back and works it to mid-wicket. One run taken and that'll be the end of the over. |
| 10.1 : Ish Sodhi to L Rahul, Sodhi provides some pace on this. Shorter and on middle and leg, it's whipped through mid-wicket. Both batsmen run hard and manage to come back for the second. Good running. |
| 10.2 : Ish Sodhi to L Rahul, Floats it up there, the leg break around off, all the batsman can do is play it back to the bowler. |
| 10.3 : Ish Sodhi to L Rahul, Goes with the spin and pushes it into the covers for a run. |
| 10.4 : Ish Sodhi to D Miller, Brings the broom out again. Sweeps this through the vacant square leg area and gets off strike. |
| 10.5 : Ish Sodhi to L Rahul, Against the spin on this occasion. KL turns it away to the leg side and changes ends. |
| 10.6 : Ish Sodhi to D Miller, Miller uses his feet to step out, get close to the pitch and flick it through mid-wicket for one run. Another tidy over from Sodhi, just 6 off it. |
| Jaydev Unadkat is back into the attack. |
| 11.1 : J Unadkat to D Miller, Short of a good length around off, Miller punches this on the up to the right of wide mid off. Only manages to steal a single. |
| 11.2 : J Unadkat to L Rahul, FOUR! A welcome boundary for Rahul and Punjab. Is this the over where KL kicks off? This is a very good shot. Good length delivery around off, Rahul makes room, steps out of his crease and lofts it cleanly over extra cover for a boundary. |
| 11.3 : J Unadkat to L Rahul, Just ahead of a length, on off stump, it's whipped through towards wide long on. Single to the total. |
| 11.4 : J Unadkat to D Miller, Deceives the southpaw well. Unadkat takes the pace off this one as he lands it on a length outside off, Miller hangs his bat inside the line and gets beaten. |
| 11.5 : J Unadkat to D Miller, Another slower delivery, Miller picks it up this time though. Rolls his wrists as he pulls this behind square leg for one run. |
| 11.6 : J Unadkat to L Rahul, Length ball on middle and leg, clipped to the man at deep mid-wicket for a run. Not a bad over from Unadkat, 8 runs from it. |
| Shreyas Gopal has a change of ends. |
| 12.1 : S Gopal to L Rahul, He's fired that in. At 112 kph, it's coming in on middle and leg, full in length, Rahul flicks it through mid-wicket and rotates strike. |
| 12.2 : S Gopal to D Miller, FOUR! Another sweep shot and this time Miller has nailed it. Kneels down and places it through square leg, beating the fielder in the deep. He's played that shot a few times already, executing it well here. |
| 12.3 : S Gopal to D Miller, The googly around off, David closes the face early and gets a safe leading edge on the off side. |
| 12.4 : S Gopal to D Miller, The batsman has played it towards mid-wicket. They pick up a single. |
| 12.5 : S Gopal to L Rahul, Rahul dances down the track to get closer to the pitch and wrists it to long on. Single collected. |
| 12.6 : S Gopal to D Miller, Short and flat around off, Miller punches it down the ground, towards long off, for a single. |
| Strategic break! Rajasthan have pulled things back decently since the wicket of Agarwal. Rahul seems to be struggling for timing out there but it is imperative that he does not lose the wicket before at least improving his strike rate. Punjab will want a grandstand finish to ensure they get to at least an above-par score. The away side will be vying for a few more wickets which will cause the hosts to struggle even more. Meanwhile, Ish Sodhi to bowl out after the break. |
| 13.1 : Ish Sodhi to D Miller, Sodhi shortens the length and keeps it in line of the stumps, Miller whips it through mid-wicket off the back foot for a brace. |
| 13.2 : Ish Sodhi to D Miller, Short again, Miller with a swat which finds deep mid-wicket. One run taken and the 100 comes up for Punjab with that. |
| 13.3 : Ish Sodhi to L Rahul, SIX! That's out of here! A big, big hit from Kl Rahul. Sodhi with another short ball which deserves to be punished. Rahul hangs back, adjusts in the crease and muscles the pull deep into the mid-wicket stands. |
| 13.4 : Ish Sodhi to L Rahul, Going down leg, Rahul pulls it fine down the leg side. Turner at short fine leg moves to his right and stops it with a dive, keeps the batsmen to a single. |
| 13.5 : Ish Sodhi to D Miller, SIX! All 5 balls have been bowled short. Sodhi getting the treatment here. Around leg, Miller makes room for himself and smokes it straight back into the sightscreen for a biggie. |
| 13.6 : Ish Sodhi to D Miller, Wide! Gone for 17 already, still one delivery left. It spins down leg, the umpire signals wide. |
| Ish Sodhi to D Miller, Tossed up on middle and leg, Miller flicks it through mid-wicket and pushes for the second as there's a big gap out there. Gets it quite comfortably too. 19 off the over, an expensive one for Rajasthan. Sodhi doesn't sign off well. He ends with figures of 4-0-41-1. |
| Unadkat comes back on to bowl now. |
| 14.1 : J Unadkat to L Rahul, FOUR! Innovative shot from KL Rahul. Sees that fine leg is inside the ring, so he walks across to this length ball around off and paddle scoops it over the fielder's head for a boundary. The 50-run stand is up with this. |
| 14.2 : J Unadkat to L Rahul, Yorker on off, drilled to cover for a brisk run. Much better from Unadkat, needs to bowl a similar length now. |
| 14.3 : J Unadkat to D Miller, SIX! Miller making full use of the opportunity given to him this evening. A low full toss coming in on middle and leg, the Protea clears mid-wicket with a strong flick. Clean hit. That's a maximum. |
| 14.4 : J Unadkat to D Miller, Full in length and attacking the stumps, it's driven through mid on for a run. |
| 14.5 : J Unadkat to L Rahul, SIX! Breaking the shackles for sure, isn't he? Wow. Just playing with the bowler. Full and outside off, Rahul makes room, stays leg side and lofts it with an open face over the cover boundary for a flat biggie. |
| 14.6 : J Unadkat to L Rahul, A little too straight in line, Rahul clips it through square leg for a couple. A huge over for the hosts, 20 runs from it. 39 have come in the last 2. |
| Shreyas Gopal to bowl out now. |
| 15.1 : S Gopal to D Miller, Fired in as a low full toss on middle, driven hard back to long on for a run by Miller. |
| 15.2 : S Gopal to L Rahul, A sound there! Slight appeal too but in the end the bowler ends up saying it is not out. A flighted ball outside off, Rahul looks to reverse sweep that ball but misses it. The bat hits the ground and that was what the sound was. |
| 15.3 : S Gopal to L Rahul, Flighted outside off, Rahul looks to go over cover but gets an outside edge that runs on the bounce to short third man. A single is taken. |
| 15.4 : S Gopal to D Miller, Punched off the back foot to wide long off. A run is taken. |
| 15.5 : S Gopal to L Rahul, Pushed back to the bowler as this one is fired in fast and full. Excellent over so far, just 3 off it till now. |
| 15.6 : S Gopal to L Rahul, Brilliant end to the over. A pacy yorker length ball, Rahul looks to drive the ball but fails to put bat on it. Samson gets a pad on it and concedes a bye. Just 4 runs off this over though and Gopal ends with figures of 4-0-31-0. |
| Jofra Archer is back on. |
| 16.1 : J Archer to L Rahul, Pacy and on the middle and leg stump line, Rahul looks to flick it but gets a leading edge over the head of the bowler for a run. |
| 16.2 : J Archer to D Miller, BOWLED OFF A NO BALL! The off stump goes crashing but the umpire has signalled that no ball straightaway. From around the wicket, Miller goes for the pull but gets a very thin inside edge. The off stump is removed and goes carting. Rahul though has spotted the no ball and asks his partner to run. Three runs are taken as the ball rolls towards the third man fence. That is a no ball and 3 byes signalled as the inside edge is not spotted. The replays show us that it was |
| J Archer to L Rahul, Superb delivery! Really full on middle and leg, Rahul can only jam it back down towards the bowler. Wasted Free hit but the ball was so good. |
| 16.3 : J Archer to L Rahul, FOUR! On a length and following the batsman, Rahul makes room and punches the ball wide of extra cover. The fielders are up in the circle and once the ball beats them, there is no stopping that! That brings up the fifty for Rahul, his 14th in the League! This has been one of his slower innings. |
| 16.4 : J Archer to L Rahul, Yorker length ball on middle, dug out towards long on for a single. |
| 16.5 : J Archer to D Miller, Miller uses the pace of the ball to punch it towards point for a couple of runs. |
| 16.6 : J Archer to D Miller, Beaten by sheer pace! From around the wicket, Miller looks to cut the ball but is beaten by pace. 12 runs off this over, but the bowler looked really fiery in this one. |
| Jaydev Unadkat will bowl his final over. He's been taken for runs so far, but can he end his spell well? |
| 17.1 : J Unadkat to L Rahul, OUT! Unadkat strikes and he lets out a huge roar as he's got the big wicket of KL Rahul. Takes it at a crucial time too. He angles this full ball across, outside off, Rahul opens the face of the bat and hits it uppishly straight to Archer at backward point. He takes a sharp catch there. Partnership of 85 runs comes to an end. Can Rajasthan capitalize from here? |
| 0.0 : Nicholas Pooran is the next batsman. |
| 17.2 : J Unadkat to N Pooran, Pooran gets off the mark. Works this in front of square leg and gets a couple of runs to his name. |
| 17.3 : J Unadkat to N Pooran, Slower short ball on middle and leg, Pooran mistimes the pull through to deep mid-wicket for a single. |
| 17.4 : J Unadkat to D Miller, Takes the pace off it again. Short of a good length outside off, David Miller slaps the pull down to long on and jogs across to the other end. |
| 17.5 : J Unadkat to N Pooran, Rolls his fingers over this as Jaydev bowls the cutter once more, on middle and leg, Pooran tries to work it across the line but it goes off his pads on the off side. A leg bye is taken. |
| 17.6 : J Unadkat to D Miller, FOUR! Miller ends the over in a fine manner. 9 off the over from Unadkat, still, a good over, all things considered. Full and outside off, the southpaw bangs it over covers to send it across the boundary line. |
| 18.1 : J Archer to N Pooran, Really full on off, Pooran goes for the hit back down the ground but fails to find the gap. The ball goes only as far as mid off. |
| 18.2 : J Archer to N Pooran, On a length and Pooran hits it back to long on. The fielder at long on, Binny misfields and allows for the second run to be taken. Archer is not impressed. |
| 18.3 : J Archer to N Pooran, OUT! Pooran departs. The low full toss does the trick this time. The ball on off stump line, Pooran looks to go big but due to the pace of the ball, can only mistime it towards extra cover where Rahane comes running in and takes a smart tumbling catch. Rajasthan finishing well. |
| Mandeep Singh is the new man in for Punjab. |
| 18.4 : J Archer to D Miller, After crossing over the previous ball, Miller powers this pacy low full toss on off down to long on for a single. This is excellent bowling from Archer. Just 3 runs so far in 4 balls. |
| 18.5 : J Archer to M Singh, Make it 3 in five! Another full toss but the pace is such that Mandeep is late in bringing his bat down and can only mistime it towards the right of the bowler where Archer stops it with a good dive. |
| 18.6 : J Archer to M Singh, OUT! Bowled' em! The slower bouncer does the trick now. From the back of the hand, Mandeep looks to go for the pull but ends up chopping the ball back on to the leg stump which is uprooted. Superb stuff from Archer, he ends up with figures of 4-0-15-3!!! |
| Ravichandran Ashwin walks out to bat next. Meanwhile, it is Dhawal Kulkarni to bowl the final over. |
| 19.1 : D Kulkarni to D Miller, OUT! Kulkarni on and Kulkarni strikes instantly. The big-hitting David Miller is out of here. A good knock from him, but his team would have needed him to finish things off here. Fuller length ball around leg, Miller clears his front leg to clear long on. Can only hit it high and into the safe hands of Jos Buttler out in the deep. |
| Mujeeb Ur Rahman is the next man in. |
| 19.2 : D Kulkarni to R Ashwin, FOUR! Ashwin opens his account with the boundary. A length ball on top of off, Ashwin backs off and cuts it wide of point for a boundary. Third man tries to come around but his effort goes in vain. Important runs these! |
| 19.3 : D Kulkarni to R Ashwin, Just fails to find the gap this time. A length ball on off, Ashwin comes down the ground and looks to beat mid off to his left but the fielder there does well to stop it by moving fast. It was Buttler out there. |
| 19.4 : D Kulkarni to Ur Rahman, Yorker down the leg side, right at the base of the batsman. Mujeeb fails to put bat on ball but scampers to the other end as the ball lobs off his pads towards point for a leg bye. |
| 19.5 : D Kulkarni to R Ashwin, SIX! That is struck sweetly and goes sailing into the stands. Kulkarni has done the error of bowling length once more here and Ashwin takes full toll. He pulls this away over deep mid-wicket for a biggie. Huge! |
| 19.6 : D Kulkarni to R Ashwin, SIX! Another one! Cheeky from the skipper and he has played a captain's knock right at the end here. These runs could prove really vital. A full toss on middle, the Punjab skipper comes inside the line and lifts it over short fine leg. The ball goes over the rope. Excellent finish for the hosts after a poor last two overs. 18 runs off the 20th powers the home side to the highest score at this venue this season. |
| Punjab, after all their struggle, have managed to post a very good total on the board. Only 46 runs were scored in the final 5 overs, but that last over of Kulkarni could prove to be all the difference. Being put into bat, the hosts didn't get off to a good start as they lost a couple of wickets and were struggling to score, but Rahul and Miller took it upon them to do the bulk of the scoring. They took their time, settled in and put on an 85-run stand, with the former scoring a fifty. Things we |
| Rajasthan will be disappointed that they let their opponents get to this point really. They were doing well in the first 10, went for some runs in the next few overs after that, but did well in the death overs, barring the final one. Though, when the big runs came, they all came together and everyone got taken for runs. However, despite the chaos around, Archer was phenomenal once again as finished with 3/15 in his 4-over spell. |
| David Miller is caught down for a chat. Miller says that the wicket is a good one to bat on and that the boundary on one side is a massive one while the other side is short so they got to bowl accordingly. He informs that he was actually not going to play tonight and was warming up with some football but an unfortunate injury to Moises Henriques allowed him to come into the side. He states that he tries to keep things simple in his head and play according to the stage and strike the ball as well |
| What will happen in the second half? The target is not an easy one to chase, but the wicket has got better to bat on as the game has gone on. Will Rajasthan be able to take advantage of that and get themselves across the line? Or will the three spinners in the Punjab side have their say on the result? We'll find out soon enough. |
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