IPL 2024 - Shimron Hetmyer does it for RR, helps them win by 3 wickets in last-over thriller against PBKS

In another last-over thriller, the host team Punjab Kings (PBKS) lost to Rajasthan Royals (RR) by 3 wickets at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium in Mullanpur, Chandigarh, in Match 27 of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024.

ALSO READ | IPL 2024 - Sam Curran captain's PBKS in Shikhar Dhawan's absence; where is vice-captain Jitesh Sharma fans question

After being put in to bat first, the home side's vice-captain Jitesh Sharma started to play a few expansive shots, but the real impact came from the 'Impact Player' Ashutosh Sharma, whose 16-ball 31 took his side close to the 150-run mark. However, RR also faced difficulty after a good start but lost track in the middle. Shimron Hetmyer's 27* off 10 helped them win with just one ball to spare.

Rajasthan did not lose a single wicket in the Powerplay, but they managed to score just 38 runs in that period. Yashasvi Jaiswal (39 off 28) found a new partner in Tanush Kotian (24 off 31), who struggled and fell in the ninth over. Later, Sanju Samson (18 off 14), Riyan Parag (23 off 18), Dhruv Jurel (6 off 11), Rovman Powell (11 off 5), and Keshav Maharaj (1 off 2) added the rest of the runs.

ALSO READ | 'Made for each other' - MS Dhoni pictures with World Cup trophy makes fans nostalgic, ask when we will win another

For PBKS, Kagiso Rabada and Sam Curran both took two wickets each, while Arshdeep Singh, Liam Livingstone, and Harshal Patel had one wicket each to their names.

Earlier, Atharva Taide (15 off 12), who came to bat in place of Shikhar Dhawan, departed cheaply, and Prabhsimran Singh (10 off 14) could not get going either. Jonny Bairstow (15 off 19) played an uncharacteristic knock as he looked sluggish and struggled for rhythm, while the RR bowlers kept the pressure on. 

Watch 50k+ Titles from SonyLiv, LionsgatePlay, aha, Zee5, ULLU, Fancode and 35+ OTTs and 250+ Live TV channels with OTTplay Premium subscription of Power Play montly pack at just ₹99 for the first month using the code OTTORG99

Wickets kept falling at regular intervals, and PBKS, throughout, could not hold the fort with Sam Curran (6 off 10), Jitesh Sharma (29 off 24), Shashank Singh (9 off 9), Liam Livingstone (21 off 14), and Harpreet Brar (3 off 3) scoring in small numbers.

Teams:

Rajasthan Royals (Playing XI): Sanju Samson(w/c), Riyan Parag, Dhruv Jurel, Shimron Hetmyer, Rovman Powell, Tanush Kotian, Keshav Maharaj, Trent Boult, Avesh Khan, Kuldeep Sen, Yuzvendra Chahal

Impact Subs: Yashasvi Jaiswal, Tom Kohler-Cadmore, Shubham Dubey, Navdeep Saini, Abid Mushtaq

Punjab Kings (Playing XI): Jonny Bairstow, Atharva Taide, Prabhsimran Singh, Sam Curran(c), Liam Livingstone, Jitesh Sharma(w), Shashank Singh, Harpreet Brar, Harshal Patel, Arshdeep Singh, Kagiso Rabada

Impact Subs: Rahul Chahar, Ashutosh Sharma, Vidhwath Kaverappa, Harpreet Singh Bhatia, Nathan Ellis.