PBKS Vs RR, IPL 2024: Hetmyer Takes Rajasthan Home In Low-Scoring Thriller - As It Happened

We had another last over thriller as Punjab Kings went down against Rajasthan Royals in the match number 27 of the Indian Premier League 2024 at the newly-constructed Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium, Mullanpur in Chandigarh. After being told to bat, the Kings could only get to 147/8 thanks to another late flurry from Ashutosh Sharma. In reply, the hosts kept things tight and struck regularly to never let the game slip away before a rampaging Shimron Hetmyer took the Royals home on the penultimate ball of the match. With this win the Royals solidify their position at the top of the points tally with 10 points in six matches while Punjab have just two wins to show in their six games and things begin to turn hard for the Kings. Catch the highlights of the PBKS vs RR match in IPL 2024, right here (Key Battles | Scorecard)

Total - 26

Punjab Kings - 11

Rajasthan Royals - 15

RR win toss, opt to bowl first

Shikhar Dhawan out with a niggle.

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

Some seam movement for the seamers who should dominate here. You'll need to bowl in that good length and the line should be around off or just outside off. There is a little bit of dew factor, so you would want to bowl first, but you can win by batting first as well. 180 should be a par score on this wicket, reckons Daren Ganga on air

Some swing upfront for Trent Boult as both the openers Atharva Taide and Jonny Bairstow remain watchful.

PBKS 4/0 (1)

Despite losing only opener Atharva Taide, PBKS could only muster 38 runs in the powerplay. Taide was removed by Avesh Khan for 15 off 12 balls.

PBKS 38/1 (6)

Keshav Maharaj picked wickets of Jonny Bairstow and Sam Curran in his two overs to leave PBKS in a spot of bother at the halfway mark. Runs have dried up with the last boundary coming on the penultimate ball of the powerplay.

PBKS - 53/4 (10)

Jitesh Sharma lofted Yuzvendra Chahal over extra cover to bring up the first six of the night even as PBKS batters struggled to find boundaries. Shashank Singh was earlier removed by Kuldeep Sen in the 13th over for a run-a-ball 9.

PBKS - 86/5 (15)

Another quickfire cameo from Ashutosh Sharma has taken a struggling Punjab Kings to 147/8 in their 20 overs.

Sharma hit one four and three sixes in his 16-ball 31 and helped the Kings score 61 runs in last five overs.

PBKS - 147/8 (20)

Punjab Kings 147/8 (Ashutosh Sharma 31 off 16, Jitesh Sharma 29 off 24; Keshav Maharaj 23/2, Avesh Khan 34/2)

Arshdeep Singh started with a 9-run over and Kagiso Rabada joined him from the other end to keep things tight.

RR - 14/0 (2) - need 134 off 108

Yashasvi Jaiswal and Tanush Kotian have been watchful through the powerplay as PBKS bowlers have not looked much threatening.

RR - 43/0 (6) - need 105 from 84

PBKS got their first wicket as Liam Livingstone clean bowled Tanush Kotian who scored a laboured 24 off 31 balls.

Yashasvi Jaiswal on the other hand has continued to find boundaries and is now joined by Sanju Samson.

RR - 66/1 (10) - need 82 from 60

Kagiso Rabada got rid of Yashasvi Jaiswal (39) and Sanju Samson (18) in a fiery spell to keep PBKS in the hunt even as RR closed in on the target.

In-form Riyan Parag is currently in the middle with Dhruv Jurel as RR look for their fifth win of the season.

RR - 99/3 (15) - need 49 from 30

A successful 18th over from Arshdeep Singh has spiced up the game with the equation getting tense.

Arshdeep Singh to bowl the final over over. Shimron Hetmyer takes strike.

Shimron Hetmyer carried RR home with a crucial 10-ball 27 not out and helped his team to a three wicket win over PBKS on the penultimate ball of the match.

Punjab Kings 147/8 in 20 (Ashutosh Sharma 31 off 16, Jitesh Sharma 29 off 24; Keshav Maharaj 23/2, Avesh Khan 34/2)

Rajasthan Royals 152/7 in 19.5 (Yashasvi Jaiswal 39 off 28, Shimron Hetmyer 27* off 10; Kagiso Rabada 18/2, Sam Curran 25/2)

"The wicket was slightly slow, but we didn't start well with the bat and didn't finish well in the end. It was a good effort from the lower order, getting (close) to 150 was excellent, the bowling was good, we kept them down, unfortunately another close loss. We stuck to our plans, bowled and fielded well, but I'm confident we'll bounce back in the next game."

"Against Punjab in the last 3-4 years, each and every game is very close. They bowled really well, it was a funny game. (On Hetmyer) He has been doing ti for years and years, experience and composure. Rovamn and Hetty - having them was good. Tanush had a fabulous Ranji Trophy. He's been impressing everyone. We didn't want to unsettle the batting order. Very happy to see him (Jaiswal) get those 30s and 40s."

"I try my best to hit sixes. I am happy that I helped my team today. They (pressure) creep in the first couple of balls, afterwards I try to keep it as clear as possible."

RR extended their lead at the top of the table with their fifth win in the competition while play-offs for the PBKS have been hit hard after they have just two wins to show in their six games. That's all from our side. Goodnight!