IPL 2019
IPL 2019: Match 32 (KXIP vs RR): Ashwin Helps To Register Another Win Over Rajasthan
By CricShots - Apr 17, 2019 12:24 am
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The Kings XI Punjab (KXIP) now has 10 points in the IPL 2019 points table as they defeated the Rajasthan Royals (RR) by 12 runs. Ravi Ashwin‘s 17-run fireworks made the difference in the end and though Stuart Binny flamboyant innings of 33 off 11 balls, wasn’t enough for the Royals to go over the line. The Royals have now lost six matches and need to win all the remaining matches to have any chance of qualifying for the playoffs.

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R Ashwin did the job again

During the chase of 183 runs, Rajasthan started well Jos Buttler was firing from the word go, but he was dismissed by the debutant Arshdeep Singh in the fifth over. RR also surprised everyone by sending Rahul Tripathi to open the innings and he didn’t disappoint. After Buttler’s dismissal, Sanju Samson and Tripathi kept the team in the game. But it was tough to hit big sixes on a big ground in Mohali. Both of them got out while attempting to go big.

WATCH – Pooran Takes A Blinder To Complete Arshdeep’s Maiden Wicket

Ashwin got both the wickets while Ajinkya Rahane batted at four and his role raised a lot of questions for the team management.  He failed to carry forward the momentum and despite Binny’s blitz of 33 runs off 11 deliveries, in the end, the Royals fell short of the target by 12 runs.

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KL Rahul and David Millers

Earlier, the KXIP got to a cautious start with Chris Gayle smacking a couple of sixes. But their opening duo of KL Rahul and Gayle is played too many dot balls in the powerplay. Despite the Universe Boss scoring 30 runs in the powerplay, he took 22 balls for that and KXIP could only score 39 runs in the first six overs.

WATCH – R Ashwin Smashes 17 Runs Off the Final Over

Mayank Agarwal then batted dominantly and raced through to 26 but once again he couldn’t carry on and was snaffled by Ish Sodhi. David Miller and Rahul upped the ante at the right time and were set for a grand finish in the last three overs. But the Royals bowled superbly in the death overs to pick four wickets and the KXIP looked set to finish at 170.

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Jofra Archer kept RR in the game

However, there was a twist in the tale. R Ashwin came out to bat to smack 17 off just four balls in the final over and helped his team to 182 runs for the loss of six wickets. The KXIP bowled well and those runs from their skipper turned out to be match-winning in the end as the home side won the match by a narrow margin. 

Brief Score: 

Kings XI Punjab – 182/7 in 20 overs (KL Rahul: 52, D Miller: 40; J Archer: 3/15) defeated Rajasthan Royals – 170/7 in 20 overs (R Tripathi: 50; R Ashwin: 2/24, A Singh: 2/43) by 12 runs

Here’s how Twitter reacted to another defeat of RR: