Kings dethroned by rampant Rajasthan

A wonderful half-century from opener Yashasvi Jaiswal, backed up by excellent bowling, helped the Rajasthan Royals to a 50-run victory over the Punjab Kings in the Indian Premier League at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium in Mullanpur on Saturday evening.

Jaiswal cracked three boundaries and five maximums for a 45-ball 67 to help the Royals post 205 for four after Punjab captain Shreyas Iyer had won the toss and elected to field first. Despite a 41-ball 62 from middle-order Nehal Wadhera, the Kings failed to continue their unbeaten run, ending on 155 for nine.

The victory was the second-consecutive win for the Royals under the returning captaincy of Sanju Samson, after consecutive defeats to start the campaign, lifting them two places to seventh on the 10-team log.

Jaiswal’s opening stand of 89 from 62 balls with captain Samson set the tone for a record total in Mullanpur, the first time a team has crossed the 200-run mark in the far north of India. Samson’s contribution of 38 from 26 balls was slightly less aggressive, yet it included six boundaries to give the visitors the start they needed.

The introduction of New Zealander Lockie Ferguson (4-0-37-2) brought about immediate success as he had Samson caught by Iyer at mid-off. The wicket, though, did not stem the flow of runs as Jaiswal and Riyan Parag (43 not out) added a further 34 runs for the second wicket at a blistering pace, needing just 18 deliveries.

Again, it was Ferguson to the Kings’ rescue, clean-bowling Jaiswal with a knuckleball. Nitish Rana lasted just seven balls before being caught by Glenn Maxwell at deep cover from the bowling of Marco Jansen (4-0-45-1). Maxwell was again in the action, this time at long-on, to see the back of Shimron Hetmeyr for 20 from the spin of Arshdeep Singh (4-0-35-1).

Dhruv Jurel (13 not out) and Parag managed an unbeaten 20 from seven balls, with Parag cracking three fours and three sixes from 25 balls to send the Royals over the 200-run mark.

In reply, the Kings were reckless upfront, with Jofra Archer (4-0-25-3) claiming the wickets of Priyansh Arya (0) and Iyer (10) in the first over. Prabhsimran Singh lasted 16 balls before being caught at mid-wicket by Wanindu Hasaranga from the bowling of Kumar Kartikeya (2-0-21-1).

Maxwell (30) and Wadhera tried valiantly to get the chase back on track with a wonderful stand of 88 from 52 deliveries for the fifth wicket but there was just too much to do after Maheesh Theekshana (4-0-26-2) had Maxwell caught at long-off by Jaiswal after cracking three fours and a six from 21 balls.

Wadhera tried his best to keep his side in the chase, striking four boundaries and three sixes but was caught at deep mid-wicket by Jurel from the bowling of Hasaranga (4-0-36-1) to effectively put the final nail in the Kings’ coffin.

Once Wadhera fell, the rest of the Punjab lineup fell away, with Sandeep Sharma (4-0-21-2) adding Suryansh Shedge (2) to the wicket of Marcus Stoinis (1) while Jansen (3) offered little resistance before Archer closed off the innings by having Arshdeep caught at short extra cover by Hasaranga.

RAJASTHAN ROYALS: Yashasvi Jaiswal, Sanju Samson(c), Nitish Rana, Riyan Parag, Dhruv Jurel(w), Shimron Hetmyer, Wanindu Hasaranga, Jofra Archer, Maheesh Theekshana, Yudhvir Singh Charak, Sandeep Sharma

PUNJAB KINGS: Prabhsimran Singh (w), Shreyas Iyer (capt), Marcus Stoinis, Nehal Wadhera, Glenn Maxwell, Shashank Singh, Suryansh Shedge, Marco Jansen, Arshdeep Singh, Lockie Ferguson, Yuzvendra Chahal