Jaiswal creates history, Royals keep hopes alive
Rajasthan Royals (RR) batter Yashasvi Jaiswal made history on Friday by becoming an uncapped player with the most runs in a single season of the Indian Premier League (IPL) history. The 21-year-old reached this milestone during his side’s four-wicket win against Punjab Kings at Dharamsala.
Jaiswal continued his red-hot form with a knock of 50 runs in just 36 balls, consisting of eight boundaries. His runs came at a strike rate of 138.69.
Following the half-century, Jaiswal has scored a total of 625 runs in 14 matches at an average of 48.07. He has scored one century and five half-centuries this season, with the best score of 124. His runs have come at a strike rate of 163.61. The young batter has broken a 15-year-old record of most runs by an uncapped player in IPL history, which was earlier held by Australian batter Shaun Marsh. In the IPL 2008, when Marsh was uncapped and yet to represent Australia, he had scored 616 runs in 11 matches at an average of 68.44.
After being put to bat first by Rajasthan Royals, Punjab Kings scored 187/5 in their 20 overs. They struggled against RR bowlers initially, losing their four wickets for just 50 runs in 6.3 overs. Then Jitesh Sharma (44) and Sam Curran (49 n.o.) stitched a 64-run stand for the fifth wicket to bring PBKS back into the game. Curran and Shahrukh Khan (41 n.o. in 23 balls), scored 46 runs in the final two overs.
In the chase of 188, RR lost Jos Buttler early for a duck, his fifth this season. Jaiswal and Devdutt Padikkal (51 in 30 balls) stitched a 73-run stand for the second wicket, helping RR fight back.
Later on, cameos from Shimron Hetmyer (46 in 28 balls), Riyan Parag (20 in 12 balls) and Dhruv Jurel (10 n.o. in four balls) helped RR clinch a last-over thriller win by four wickets.
Kagiso Rabada (2/40) was the pick of the bowlers for PBKS.
RR climbed to fifth spot in the points table with seven wins and seven losses to keep their hopes for a place in the playoffs alive while Punjab Kings were eliminated.