Punjab Kings secured a hard-fought five-wicket victory against Rajasthan Royals in Guwahati on Wednesday. Despite a modest target of 145, the sluggish pitch posed a challenge for the Kings. However, skipper Sam Curran anchored the chase with a composed 63 not out, guiding his team to their fifth win of the season.
Curran's knock, which included five fours and three sixes, proved crucial. He received valuable support from Jitesh Sharma (22 off 20) as the pair stitched together a vital 63-run partnership for the fifth wicket.
Earlier, Rajasthan's batting faltered after winning the toss. Openers Yashasvi Jaiswal and Sanju Samson (who surpassed 500 runs for the season) departed early. While Riyan Parag (48) and Ravichandran Ashwin (28) attempted to revive the innings with a 50-run stand, Rajasthan could only manage 144 runs.
Right-arm pacer Avesh Khan provided Rajasthan with an early breakthrough, dismissing Rilee Rossouw and Shashank Singh cheaply. The spin duo of Yuzvendra Chahal and Ashwin also applied pressure, restricting Punjab to 49/4 at one stage.
However, Curran and Sharma steadied the chase before Chahal dismissed Sharma in the 16th over. The newly introduced Impact Player, Ashutosh Sharma, then joined Curran and ensured Punjab crossed the finish line with 1.1 overs to spare. Avesh Khan conceded crucial sixes in his final over, effectively sealing the win for Punjab in IPL.
Curran, who had expressed a desire to play with pride before the match, led by example with a match-winning knock. Rajasthan, despite flashes of brilliance from Parag and Ashwin, ultimately fell short due to their inconsistent batting display.
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