The Indian Express (Delhi Edition)
Royal crumble: Kings consign Rajasthan to fourth straight loss
Imperfect teams, close game
This wasn't expected to be a classic, based on the recent track record of the two teams. One team had already been knocked out of playoff contention while the other, even though it had secured a top-four spot, seemed to have done so almost by default despite losing their last three games. Also, some of their big overseas stars – from Jos Buttler to Liam Livingstone and Kagiso Rabada – have gone home.
Rajasthanroyals-punjabkingsgamesover the last few seasons, and while there was not much riding on the game in terms of qualification,itdidprovideaclosecontest,largelydue totheimperfectionsofthetwoteams.itpromised to go down to the wire at one stage before alatespurttookkingstoafive-wicketwinwith sevenballstospare,takingroyals'losingstreak to four games.
After the Royals won the toss and chose to bat, there was a distinct lack of initiative and enterprise on their part. Yashasvi Jaiswal crashed the first ball of the game, offering a bit of width, through the off-side. But once he played on later in the same over bowled by Sam Curran, the innings was becalmed.
Tom Kohler-cadmore, making his IPL debut at the top of the order, seemed a poor imitation of Buttler. He was too stiff, being deceivedbytheslowsurfaceprovidedforthefirst game of the season in Guwahati before being put out of his misery after a 23-ball 18. It put the onus of run-scoring on Sanju Samson, but heperishedintheendeavour.theroyalswere stuttering at 43/3 after eight overs.
It was only home boy Riyan Parag, apart from a cameo from Ravichandran Ashwin, who kept the innings together and ensured theyreached144/9,inadequateonmostoccasions.parag'sknockoff48off34balls,withsix fours, wasn't his most fluent of the season, and reflected the rut the team has fallen into.
Nathan Ellis and Harshal Patel were difficult to get away with their change of pace, while leg-spinner Rahul Chahar foxed the overseas contingent to their doom. But there wereveryfew,ifany,instancesofbatsmenadvancing down the pitch or trying to take the bowlers on, probably a result of lack of confidence.
Captain leads from the front
Punjab Kings' batting has been their weakersuitthroughouttheseason.theiroverseas stars didn't turn up, bar exceptions, when it mattered most, and their Indian contingent remained inconsistent throughout.
On Wednesday, with nothing to play for in terms of their prospects in the tournament, they made heavy weather of a modest chase till their skipper took charge of matters.
Samcurranhasn'tsettheiplonfire,buthe has been saddled with added responsibility as the top order has underperformed. Chasing just145onasluggishpitchagainstaqualityattack, the England all-rounder was in his element. He had to do it almost by himself after they were reduced to 48/4 after eight overs. Jitesh Sharma played a support act with a 20ball 22 and Impact Sub Ashustosh Sharma found the boundary and the stands at the end in an 11-ball 17. But it was Curran's unbeaten 43-ball61,followingupwithtwowicketswith left-arm medium pace, that had the biggest role in the victory.
The asking rate went beyond nine runs an over at one stage but Curran kept his cool and found the big hits whenever required. Five fours and three sixes reminded one of the batting talent that made the vital difference in a Testseriesagainstindiasixyearsago.itwasnot all power-hitting as it wasn't feasible for a player not of the biggest build. There was finesse, some deft placement, use of feet and a wide repertoire of shots. Sweeps, drives, slaps, glides,pullsandold-fashionedheavesfeatured in his knock, but the one shot that caught the eye was the inside-out six over cover off Ashwin.
BRIEF SCORES: Rajasthan Royals 144/9 in 20 overs (Riyan Parag 48; Rahul Chahar 2/26, Harshal Patel 2/28) lost to Punjab Kings 145/5 in 18.5 overs (Sam Curran 63 not out) by five wickets