Hello and welcome to the live coverage of the Indian Premier League 2023 match today between Rajasthan Royals and Punjab Kings in Guwahati. Both teams won their respective opening match and will be full of confidence today.
GAME OVER! Sam Curran wins it for Punjab Kings - 192/7
The left arm bowler held his nerve as he restricted the RR to only 10 runs in the final over, 6 short off the target.
WICKET! 186/7 after 19.3 Overs
Hetmyer is run out after Jurel sends him back for a second run to long off. Brilliant cameo comes to an end as the West Indian is out for 36 of 18 balls.
RR vs PBKS Live: 182/6 after 19 Overs
18 came off this Arshdeep over with 2 FOURS and a SIX courtesy Jurel. RR need 16off the last over, which Sam Curran will bowl. This is exciting!
RR vs PBKS Live: TWO AMAZING SHOTS - 175/6 after 18.3 Overs
What an impact from the Impact Player! Jurel hits a 4 at long off and a cracking SIXover the cover region off Arshdeep
RR vs PBKS Live: 164/6 after 18 Overs - BIG OVER
Shimron Hetmyeris keeping RR in the game with two huge sixes on the leg side. One over square leg and a full toss six over mid wicket. Can the southpaw pull off an incredible chase? 19 came off this over. 34 needed from 12 balls
RR vs PBKS Live: 145/6 after 17 Overs
A much better over for RR as Nathan Ellis's final over goes for 16. A six each from Jurel and Hetmyer has kept RR in the reckoning. Ellis has been brilliant tonight, as his figures read 4 Over, 30 Runs, 4 Wickets!
RR vs PBKS Live: 129/6 after 16 Overs
Just 5 from the over and that really sums up RR's predicament. The Royals need 69 from 4 overs with Hetmyer and Jurel at the crease.
RR vs PBKS Live: WICKET! 124/6 after 15 Overs
Double wicket over for Nathan Ellis as Padikkal's tortuous innings is ended with his stumps disturbed. The left handed never got going and with the required rate climbing, he went for a slog over mid wicket. Unfortunately, he didn't connect as the ball crashed against the stumps. He is dismissed for 21 of 26 balls. It's game set and match for Punjab...surely they are winning the game now.
WICKET! 121/5 after 14.1 Overs - Parag out
Big trouble for RR as the local boy is dismissed for 20 of 12 balls. Parag goes for the big one but Nathan Ellis cleverly reduced the pace on the delivery as the ball goes high nut not long. Shahrukh Khan completes the catching formalities as RR are staring at defeat. West Indies' Shimron Hetmyer is at the crease.
RR vs PBKS Live: 121/4 after 14 Overs
Parag hits a FOUR -- a pull shot behind square -- but this Arshdeep over has gone only for 6 runs.
RR vs PBKS Live: 115/4 after 13 Overs - SIX from Parag
Local boy ends Raza over with a maximum over long on. Crowd goes wild but Parag is unmoved; he knows the job isn't done yet. 13 runs in this over, RR needs more such big overs.
BOUNDARY
Finally a four for Padikkal in the 13th over. An outside edge off Raza and the ball loops over Arshdeep Singh's head, at short third, and races away to the boundary.It's taken him only 24 balls! He needs to do better.
RR vs PBKS Live: 102/4 after 12 overs
Parag and Padikkal have 96 runs to chase from the last 8 overs.
That was HUGEEEE
Parag rocks on to the back foot and dispatchesa short one from Rahul Chahar 15 rows into the mid wicket boundary. That was a much needed SIX.
WICKET! 91/4 after 11 Overs
Sanju Samson is out! Disciplined bowling in the last 3 overs has finally taken a toll as the RR skipper is holed out at long off with Matthew Short taking another catch. Samson went for the MAXIMUM off Ellis but didn't get enough on his bat. He is dismissed for 42 of 25 balls.
Local boy Riyan Parag is in. Will he delight his home crowd?
RR vs PBKS Live: 89/3 after 10 Overs
A tidy, disciplined over from Rahul Chahar and the pressure is on Sanju Samsonto get a move on.
RR vs PBKS Live: Raza into the attack - 81/3 after 9 Overs
The wily Zimbabwean is tailor-made for situations like today, where his tidy bowling could be game changing. His first over has been a bit expensive, however, conceding 11 runs including 4 wides. A strategic Time Out has been called
RR vs PBKS Live: 70/3 after 8 Overs
Rahul Chahar into the attack and just 7 runs fom his over. Samson is RR's hope now and he is doing his best to keepup with the scoring rate. He dismissed the leggie for a cracking four past point. Padikkal at the other end needs to give his skipper the right support.
RR vs PBKS Live: 63/3 after 7 Overs
A tidy over from slow left arm bowler Harpreet Brar
RR vs PBKS LIVE: 57/3 after 6 Overs
Right arm fast bowler Nathan Ellis ends a successfull over, despite conceding 2 FOURS in the first 2 balls. The wicket of Jos Buttler could prove to be game changing.
WICKET! Buttler gone 57/3 after 5.4 Overs
Sanju Samson makes batting so easy on the eyes! He welcomes Nathan Ellis to two FOURS, the first over extra cover and the next past point!
However, Buttler is dismissed caught and bowled for 19 off 11 balls in bizarre fashion. An inside edge ricochets off his pads and the ball loops in the air. The bowler sprints and completes a diving catch. Devdut Padikkal replaces Buttler
RR vs PBKS Live: 48/2 after 5 Overs
Double Boundary
Harpreet Brar into the attack and the slow left arm almost gets Samson off the second ball. Samson hit a flat hit towards long off, but it falls short off Shahrukh Khan as the ball ricochets off the fielder for a FOUR. The very next ball Samson goes over cover and helps himself to another boundary.
RR vs PBKS Live: Jos into the act! 39/2 after 4 Overs
Buttler ends Arshdeep's over with a MAXIMUM of his own as he sends an overpitched ball to long off for a much-needed SIX. 14 came off this over.
SIXXXX!
Sanju Samson releases some pressure by getting off the mark with a MAXIMUM. The RR skipper smashes Arshdeep's short ball down the ground for a straight SIX, just below the side screen.
WICKET 26/2 after 3.2 Overs
The Ashwin gamble ends in a duck! Arshdeep Singh gets his and Punjab's second wicket as Ashwin is holed out at mid on for 0 (4). Skipper Shikhar Dhawan completes an easy catch after Ashwin's pull shot goes high but not long enough.
In walks Sanju Samson to cheers from the crowd
RR vs PBKS Live: 25/1 after 3 Overs
9 runs off the over, including a dropped catch. RR bowlers aren't giving much away to Buttler and Ashwin
DROPPED!
Jos Buttler pulls Sam Curran from outside the off stump but doesn't get enough. Ball loops to the deep mid wicket fielderHarpreet Brar, who runs in and get hold off the ball but unfortunately does not complete the catch. A good effort though.
RR vs PBKS Live: 16/1 after 2 Overs
A good first over from Arshdeep after conceding a FOUR off the first ball.
WICKET! 13/1 after 1.3 Overs
Arshdeep Singh draws first blood as Jaiswal is caught at cover by Short. A lazy uppish cover drive from the left hander and the fielder gladly pouches the catch. Jos Buttler walks in..
RR vs PBKS Live: 7/0 after 1 Over
Just 1 run after the first ball six. Sam Curran has bowled a tidy over
Off to a BANG!
Jaiswal hooks Sam Curran for a mighty six off the first ball of the innings!
RR vs PBKS: Speaking of Ashwin...
Rajasthan Royals have sprung up a surprise as R Ashwin walks into bat alongisde Yashasvi Jaiswal! This will be interesting
RR vs PBKS Live: 197/4 after 20 Overs
The Punjab Kings finish at 197/4 after a brilliant final over from Holder saw him concede only 7 runs, which included a FOUR, and pick up a wicket. Crucially, some good bowling, especially from R Ashwin, has restricted Punjab Kings to a score under 200.
Powered by Prabhsimran Singh and Shikhar Dhawan's half centuries, Punjab Kings could have scored more had the opening duo got more support. Jitesh Sharm and Shahrukh Khan played useful cameos butonly time will tell if this total is enough for the Kings. Join us in a few minutes for the second innings as Jos Buttler and Yashasvi Jaiswal will walk into bat for the Royals.
RR vs PBKS Live: WICKET! 196/4 after 19.4 Overs
Brilliant catch from Jos Buttler yet again as Shahrukh Khan is holed out at Long On, off a low full toss from Jason Holder. Khan is dismissed for 11 off 10 balls. Sam Curran is at the crease
RR vs PBKS Live: 190/3 after 19 Overs
An expensive over from Asif sees PBKS reach 190 with an over left. Asif's four overs have gone for 54 runs!
Asif's nightmare continues!
After the six, Asif now bowls a waist-high no ball and concedes a Free Hit. Costly mistake from the quick as Dhawan gets down on one knee and powers the low full toss to the vacant cover BOUNDARY for a FOUR
Cheeky SIX from the skipper!
Dhawan exploits KM Asif's pace and scoops a SIX behind the keeper
RR vs PBKS Live: 174/3 after 18 Overs
Tremendous SIX!
Dhawan reverse sweeps Jason Holder over Third Man for SIX!
RR vs PBKS Live: 165/3 after 17 Overs
Great over from Ash Anna. Just 6runs in the over and a crucial wicket of Raza.
Ashwin's figures read 4 Overs, 25 Runs, and 1 Wicket. An excellent performance amongst the carnage.
RR vs PBKS Live: What a BEAUTY! WICKET 159/3 after 16.1 Overs
R Ashwin cleans up Sikandar Raza with a carrom ball that crashes onto the off stump. Raza's stay in the middle lasts only 2 balls as the Zimbabwean is dismissed for 1. Tamil Nadu batsman Shahrukh Khan walks in to bat
Impact Player Alert!
Chahal is replaced by Dhruv Jurel
RR vs PBKS 159/2 after 16 Overs
A successful over from Chahal, conceding only 7 overs and taking a wicket, but his overall figures for the night have not been great. 4 Overs, 50 Runs, 1 Wicket
RR vs PBKS Live: Wicket! 158/2 after 15.4 Overs
Not a great night forYuzvendra Chahalbut the leg spinner gets Jitesh Sharma caught at wide long off, off a low full toss, by local boy Riyan Parag. Sharma has done his part though as he is dismissed for a nice cameo of 27 from 16 balls.
Zimbabwe's Sikandar Raza walks into bat
RR vs PBKS Live: Monster six! 152/1 after 15 Overs
Jitesh Sharma hits a huge MAXIMUM over cover region off Trent Boult. The Kings are putting their foot down with 5 overs left. 12 came off the over.
RR vs PBKS Live: 140/1 after 14 Overs
RR vs PBKS Live: Fifty for Dhawan and then a lifeline
Dhawanhas taken his time but he's getting into the zone now. The left handed opener reaches his 50 in 36 balls with 2 consecutive FOURS off Chahal. This is his 50th T20 50. The very next ball he was beaten for flight as he sloggeda ball wide of the off stump. The ball goes into the night sky towards long on and Chahal ran backwards to make the catch. Unfortunately, he is unable to hold on.
To add salt on the wounds, Dhawan then smacks the next ball to cover region for another FOUR, the third in the over.
RR vs PBKS Live: 124/1 after 13 Overs
RR vs PBKS Live: 113/1 after 12 Overs
JiteshSharma helps himself to two boundaries, stroking 2 classy cover drives (one on the ground, one in the air)off Chahal. Dhawan then hit a huge SIX off Long On to end the over.
