In the 50th match of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2020 Rajasthan Royals (RR) defeated the Kings XI Punjab (KXIP) by 7 wickets as they chased down the target of 186 runs with 15 balls to spare. Having won the toss, RR chose to field in what was a must-win affair for them, and their in-form players, Ben Stokes and Sanju Samson played fiery knocks to take their team home. Unlike KXIP, RR knew that a loss would not be curtains for them.
Going ahead unchanged, the Royals got the wicket of Mandeep Singh in the first over itself owing to the brilliant bouncer by Jofra Archer. Although a similar story unfolded as Archer was left unsupported from the other end as Chris Gayle and KL Rahul kept the scoreboard as they added 53 runs in the powerplay. While Rahul was playing cautiously, Gayle raced away to his half-century in his brutal style.
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After the early breakthrough, the Royals’ bowlers were torn apart by Gayle as along with KXIP skipper, the Universe Boss added 121 runs for the second wicket. In the 14th over, Rahul (46 from 41) holed out to deep midwicket, where Rahul Tewatia made no mistake. Joined by his countryman Nicholas Pooran (22 from 10), Gayle continued to massacre the bowlers as the latter completed the tally of 1000 sixes in T20s. He was at 99 when a searing yorker on the leg-stump by Jofra Archer denied Gayle a scintillating century.
Coming to chase a daunting target, Ben Stokes came out all guns blazing as his early assault was evident, as while still in the powerplay, the Englishman got to himself a half-century. Giving some reason to his team to smile, Chris Jordan snapped Stokes (50 from 26) on the last ball of the powerplay, who gave a straight catch to Deepak Hooda.
Despite taking a wicket, KXIP failed to turn the game in their favor as Uthappa along with Samson kept on tonking the bowlers consistently as they helped the team to reach103/1 at the halfway mark. Just when Uthappa tried to shift gears, he was dismissed by Murugan Ashwin leaving the Royals 111/2.
WATCH – Ben Stokes Takes An Unthinkable Catch To Send Back Mandeep Singh
Samson (48 from 25) continued his hitting from the other end, although he ran himself out in the 15th over while trying to steal a quick single on the call of the RR skipper, Steve Smith. While KXIP might have thought to claw their way back in, Steven Smith (31* from 20) and Jos Buttler (22* from 11) joined hands to ensure that they took their team across the line with 15 balls to spare.
Here’s how Twitter reacted to RR’s dominating win:
"It's been that kind of a season for us where nothing has come easy!"
@klrahul11 on chances of making it to the playoffs #SaddaPunjab #IPL2020 #KXIP #KXIPvRR
— Punjab Kings (@PunjabKingsIPL) October 30, 2020
Well played @rajasthanroyals 👏
They look very dangerous while chasing.The race in points table getting intense after each match.
This weekend is gonna be interesting…super weekend ahead! #KXIPvRR pic.twitter.com/I7BrZhyGmI
— Vinod Kambli (@vinodkambli349) October 30, 2020
Another brilliant win for @rajasthanroyals tonight, I’m a very happy super fan. These other beauties are impartial but I’m working on them! @suhailchandhok @BrettLee_58 @NashpreetSingh pic.twitter.com/khT5zVJlu2
— Graeme Swann (@Swannyg66) October 30, 2020
Well played @rajasthanroyals ! Now everyone has a chance to qualify, interesting table ! What an #IPL ! #RRvsKXIP
— Kris Srikkanth (@KrisSrikkanth) October 30, 2020
Still in it to win it @rajasthanroyals #ipl #benstokes #JofraArcher #sanjusamson
— Irfan Pathan (@IrfanPathan) October 30, 2020
T20 ka Bradman- Chris Gayls. Without a doubt the greatest that there has ever been @henrygayle . Entertainment ka baap. #KXIPvRR
— Virender Sehwag (@virendersehwag) October 30, 2020
A much better #RR show tonight. A near perfect game for them. #KXIPvRR #IPL
— Anjum Chopra (@chopraanjum) October 30, 2020
Welldone double RRs still in contest for last four. well batted @benstokes38 , @IamSanjuSamson & skip @stevesmith49 to take RRs cross the line #HallaBol
— Naman Ojha (@namanojha35) October 30, 2020