Hetmyer cameo powers Royals past the finish line
The Rajasthan side makes heavy weather of a modest chase, but the West Indian’s 10-ball 27 seals the deal with a ball to spare; the visitors, led by Maharaj, restrict Kings to 147
fter Yashasvi Jaiswal topscored with 39 (28b, 4x4), Shimron Hetmyer (27 n.o., 10b, 1x4, 3x6) held his nerve to help Rajasthan Royals (RR) beat Punjab Kings (PBKS) by three wickets in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh international cricket stadium here on Saturday.
With 10 needed off the last over, Arshdeep Singh nailed a couple of wide yorkers for dot balls. Hetmyer then hit a straight six, picked up a double, and hit a six again over the fineleg boundary.
The match surprised even before it began.
Sam Curran, not Shikhar Dhawan, walked out for the toss for Kings. Dhawan, out with a niggle, had been replaced by Atharva Taide, informed Curran.
It was then Royals captain Sanju Samson’s turn to surprise. He revealed that Jos Buttler and R. Ashwin, both out with their own
Aniggles, had been replaced by Rovman Powell and Tanush Kotian.
Then, it was a bore snore of an overall batting display by Kings to get to 147 for eight. Only 38 runs were scored in the PowerPlay with 14 dot balls. As laboriously as someone tethered to a rock would, Kings panted and heaved their way to 53 for four in 10 overs.
In the next 10 overs, Jitesh Sharma (29, 24b, 1x4, 2x6), Liam Livingstone (21, 14b, 2x4, 1x6), and Ashutosh Sharma (31, 16b, 1x4, 3x6) dazzled like Ninja Turtles in a combat, only in parts.
And there was surprise again when Royals began their chase. Kotian, who often bats at Nos. 8, 9, and 10 for Mumbai in the Ranji
Trophy, opened the batting with Jaiswal.
The openers managed to get their team to 50 in 7.1 overs. Even after Kotian fell, Jaiswal and Samson seemed to be in control of the chase. But Kagiso Rabada had them both dismis(12b, 2x4),