Rajasthan Royals (RR) produced a commanding display, defeating the previously unbeaten Punjab Kings (PBKS) by 50 runs in the 18th match of IPL 2025 at Mullanpur on Saturday.
The result had a significant impact on the points table, with RR moving up from ninth to seventh place, achieving their second win of the season and enhancing their net run rate. Meanwhile, PBKS suffered their first loss and fell out of the top three.
Batting first after losing the toss, Rajasthan Royals put on a batting clinic, racking up 205/4 in their 20 overs.
The innings commenced with Yashasvi Jaiswal's explosive 67 off 45 balls, ably supported by Sanju Samson's rapid-fire 38. However, the game-changer proved to be Riyan Parag, who delivered a breathtaking 43 not out off a mere 25 balls to round off the innings in style. The team's total received further impetus from Nitish Rana's 12 off 7 and Shimron Hetmyer's 20 off 12, ultimately resulting in a strong total for RR.
Punjab's bowling attack faced a tough outing. Lockie Ferguson took two wickets but gave away 37 runs, while Marco Jansen and Arshdeep Singh picked up one wicket each.
The inability to penetrate during the middle overs proved detrimental to PBKS.
Punjab's innings never gained traction. A top-order collapse resulted in the loss of three wickets within the powerplay.
Skipper Shreyas Iyer fell early, and despite Nehal Wadhera's gritty 62, the Kings were limited to 155/9 in their 20 overs. Glenn Maxwell's 30 provided a fleeting burst of momentum, but the required run rate persisted in climbing. Jofra Archer's 3/25 spearheaded the bowling effort, while spinners Wanindu Hasaranga and Maheesh Theekshana applied the brakes on the middle order. Sandeep Sharma's miserly spells and vital wickets ensured Rajasthan's triumph.
This victory revitalized RR's season, while Punjab will strive to swiftly recover and regain momentum in the tightly contested table.
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