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Rajasthan vs Kings XI Punjab Live Commentary, Match 40, Indian Premier League, 2018, May 8, 2018

RR 158/8 (20)
Rajasthan Royals beat Kings XI Punjab by 15 runs
KXIP 143/7 (20)
Match over
Rajasthan Royals Inning Kings XI Punjab Inning
0.0 : It was just two days ago when these sides faced each other this season and now they have to do it again. This time in Rajasthan. Hello and welcome to Match 40 of the Indian T20 League. Contrasting starts for both the teams. Rajasthan are lying at the bottom while Punjab enjoying at the top half. The hosts have beaten Punjab here in four out of the four matches played here and desperately need to make it five. Should be a good game as the Men in Blue will go all-out to get the two points. Stay tu
Ian Bishop, after having a closer look at both ends of the pitch, opines that the track is not properly grassed. He says that the spinners may get the ball to turn and the seamers who bowl cutters will get purchase. Continues saying that the short ball may skid. Reckons teams will bat first as the wicket may get slower as the game progresses.
TOSS - Rajasthan win the toss and opt to bat first.
Ajinkya Rahane, the Rajasthan skipper, says that the wicket looks good. Adds that their bowling has been good so wants to defend the target. States that it's a do-or-die game and the boys are in great shape. Continues saying that it is important they play with freedom and ends by saying that they have three changes to their side - Stuart Binny, Mahipal Lomror and Ish Sodhi come in for D'Arcy Short, Shreyas Gopal and Rahul Tripathi.
Ravichandran Ashwin, the Punjab skipper, jokes he wanted to lose the toss. Opines that there won't be much bounce on the wicket. Reckons that both the teams know each other's strengths and it won't be easy to chase. Ends by saying that Akshdeep Nath and Mohit Sharma make it to the playing XI in place of Ankit Rajpoot and Mayank Agarwal.
Out come the players and the umpires. Punjab are ready and have taken the field. Jos Buttler will continue to open while skipper Ajinkya Rahane will be on the other side. Marcus Stoinis will bowl with the new ball. A slip in place. Here we go...
0.1 : M Stoinis to A Rahane, Good signs for Marcus. Gets swing straightaway. Serves this full around off, it moves away from Rahane who guides it to third man for the first run.
0.2 : M Stoinis to Jos Buttler, Full again on that fourth stump line, it moves again after pitching. Buttler shuffles across the stumps and hits it to deep backward point for a brace.
0.3 : M Stoinis to Jos Buttler, FOUR! The first of the night! Pitched up ball on leg, Buttler flicks it away off his pads to the deep backward square leg region for a boundary.
0.4 : M Stoinis to Jos Buttler, FOUR! Buttler is continuing from where he left off. This is a man in form. Another pitched up ball on middle and leg, Buttler hits this with a straight bat, down the ground, along the turf for back-to-back boundaries.
0.5 : M Stoinis to Jos Buttler, Plays this to the man at mid on. Dot ball.
0.6 : M Stoinis to Jos Buttler, Length ball on off, Jos punches this to covers. Good over for Rajasthan, 11 from it.
Axar Patel will bowl from the other end.
1.1 : A Patel to A Rahane, Gives this air on middle and leg, Rahane tucks it around the corner for one.
1.2 : A Patel to Jos Buttler, Pushes this to long off to rotate strike.
1.3 : A Patel to A Rahane, The batsman plays the towards backward point. One run added to the total.
1.4 : A Patel to Jos Buttler, FOUR! Up and over! Tossed up ball on off, Jos lofts it over covers for a boundary.
1.5 : A Patel to Jos Buttler, SIX! This one is even bigger! Another floated ball around off, Buttler leans forward and lofts this for a 83-m biggie.
1.6 : A Patel to Jos Buttler, Buttler has punched the ball off the back foot. They pick up a single.
Mohit Sharma to bowl his first over.
2.1 : M Sharma to Jos Buttler, FOUR! Bowls it short, it sits up nicely for Jos who rocks back and pulls this through mid-wicket.
2.2 : M Sharma to Jos Buttler, Back of a lengthy ball outside off, Jos gets a bottom edge to covers for one.
2.3 : M Sharma to A Rahane, A tad back of that good length, Rahane looks to work it in the gap but finds the man at short mid-wicket.
2.4 : M Sharma to A Rahane, Good length ball this time around off, Rahane takes a couple of steps forward but punches this to the man at point. Another dot.
2.5 : M Sharma to A Rahane, FOUR! Gets it away. No third man so will pick up a boundary. Length ball on middle and off, Rahane cuts it close to his body to the third man region.
2.6 : M Sharma to A Rahane, This up keeps low, Mohit serves this on middle stump, Rahane tucks it to deep square leg for a single. Rajasthan are off to a very good start.
Fourth over. Four changes. Andrew Tye is called up to bowl.
3.1 : A Tye to A Rahane, Slower ball in line of the stumps, Rahane hits ti back to Tye.
3.2 : A Tye to A Rahane, Gets behind the ball and pulls it to the deep cow corner for one.
3.3 : A Tye to Jos Buttler, Fuller ball on off, Buttler gets low and drives it to mid off. They sprint to complete the run.
3.4 : A Tye to A Rahane, OUT! Slower ball does the trick and a wicket against the run of play for Punjab. One short to many from Rahane and it results in his downfall. Knuckle ball from Tye on middle and leg, Rahane takes a few steps forward and looks to go over mid-wicket. He gets a leading edge to it and the ball skies towards covers where Akshdeep Nath settles under it and makes no mistake.
Krishnappa Gowtham has been promoted up the order.
3.5 : A Tye to Jos Buttler, The batsman has played it to the point region. The batsmen have run through for a single.
3.6 : A Tye to K Gowtham, Short ball outside off, Gowtham sways away to let it through.
4.1 : M Sharma to Jos Buttler, It's been driven superbly through the covers by Buttler.
4.2 : M Sharma to Jos Buttler, Wide. Slower ball way outside off, Buttler reaches for it but it is too far for him. The umpire signals a wide.
M Sharma to Jos Buttler, FOUR! All timing in that. Length ball outside off, Buttler makes room and pushes this to the deep backward point region. Class.
4.3 : M Sharma to Jos Buttler, Fuller this time on middle and leg, Buttler gets it off the inner half of the bat to mid on. They cross.
4.4 : M Sharma to K Gowtham, Short ball outside off, Gowtham points his bat skywards and guides it uppishly to third man. One run taken.
4.5 : M Sharma to Jos Buttler, Bangs this short again outside off, Buttler pulls this from outside off towards mid-wicket for one more.
4.6 : M Sharma to K Gowtham, SIX! SHOOOOOT!!! The best of the night! Over pitched ball from Mohit on middle stump, Gowtham Lofts this beautifully over the bowler's head for a maximum. Holds his pose for the photographers to get in their work.
5.1 : A Tye to Jos Buttler, Jos has punched that ball straight to covers.
5.2 : A Tye to Jos Buttler, FOUR! Sweet, sweet indeed. Milks this fuller ball through mid-wicket for a boundary.
5.3 : A Tye to Jos Buttler, FOUR! Back-to-back boundaries for Buttler. He is turning on the heat here. Tye bowls this full outside off, Buttler reaches for it and lofts it over covers.
5.4 : A Tye to Jos Buttler, Full ball on off, Buttler hits it towards mid on and hares to the other end.
5.5 : A Tye to K Gowtham, Slower ball in line of the stumps, Gowtham hits it to long on for a single.
5.6 : A Tye to Jos Buttler, Buttler punches this ball wide of the mid on fielder to end the over with a single. Rajasthan are 63/1 after the Powerplay.
Strategic break!
Marcus Stoinis to bowl after the break.
6.1 : M Stoinis to Jos Buttler, Bowls it on a good length, Buttler tucks it to deep mid-wicket for a run.
6.2 : M Stoinis to K Gowtham, Length around off, to close to cut and Gowtham gets a bottom edge to Rahul trying to do it.
6.3 : M Stoinis to K Gowtham, OUT! There is it. Everybody's favorite line. 'A wicket after the break'. Slower length ball from Stoinis on middle and leg, Gowtham looks to clear long on but doesn't get enough distance to it. He ends up finding Tiwary stationed who won't drop that.
Sanju Samson walks out next to bat.
6.4 : M Stoinis to Jos Buttler, The batsman has punched that ball through the offside. They pick up a single.
6.5 : M Stoinis to S Samson, Samson has flicked the ball off his pads. One run added to the total.
6.6 : M Stoinis to Jos Buttler, Buttler hits this towards mid on and gets a run for it. He now moves to 48.
Ravichandran Ashwin calls himself to bowl.
7.1 : R Ashwin to Jos Buttler, Pushed to the cover region by Jos. They pick up a single. Just one short now.
7.2 : R Ashwin to S Samson, Quicker ball around off, Samson drives it past point for one.
7.3 : R Ashwin to Jos Buttler, Fifty! His third in a row and fourth overall in the league. Tickles this to short fine leg to get there.
7.4 : R Ashwin to S Samson, Fires this outside off, Samson fails to but bat on bat trying to cut it to the offside.
7.5 : R Ashwin to S Samson, Cuts this behind the man at backward point for one more.
7.6 : R Ashwin to Jos Buttler, Driven towards the mid on region. The batsmen have run through for a single.
Axar Patel is called back into the attack.
8.1 : A Patel to Jos Buttler, Buttler pushes this to the man at covers.
8.2 : A Patel to Jos Buttler, Spin and sharp turn from Axar. Lands this on middle and it spins away from Buttler who tries poking at it.
8.3 : A Patel to Jos Buttler, Another one of those. Buttler plays and misses this ball outside his off stump.
8.4 : A Patel to Jos Buttler, Now tries to reverse sweep it and completely misses the ball. Four dots now.
8.5 : A Patel to Jos Buttler, Goes reverse sweeping again and fails to get bat on ball again. Five dots in a row.
8.6 : A Patel to Jos Buttler, A single to end the over. A very good one from Axar just one from it. Buttler rocks onto the back foot and punches the ball. One run added to the total.
Mujeeb Ur Rahman to bowl his first over.
9.1 : Ur Rahman to Jos Buttler, Bowls this short and flat, Buttler punches this through covers for a run.
9.2 : Ur Rahman to S Samson, The batsman guides it to third man. The batsmen have run through for a single.
9.3 : Ur Rahman to Jos Buttler, Short again from Mujeeb, Buttler punches this to extra cover for a brace.
9.4 : Ur Rahman to Jos Buttler, FOUR! Poor ball from Mujeeb and pays the price for it. Strays this short and down leg, Buttler just helps it on it's way for a boundary.
9.5 : Ur Rahman to Jos Buttler, Punched off the back foot by the batsman.
9.6 : Ur Rahman to Jos Buttler, Buttler cuts this past point for another run.
10.1 : A Patel to Jos Buttler, Comes from round the wicket and tossed it up. Buttler pushes this to short cover.
10.2 : A Patel to Jos Buttler, Finds the man at short cover again.
10.3 : A Patel to Jos Buttler, Milks this through mid-wicket and gets two runs easily.
10.4 : A Patel to Jos Buttler, FOUR! Short ball from Axar around off, Buttler rocks back and punches this to extra-cover. Tye there cannot get low enough and the ball meets the fence.
10.5 : A Patel to Jos Buttler, Pushes this towards covers and gets to the other end.
10.6 : A Patel to S Samson, Cuts this late to Mujeeb at short third man. Another miss field and they steal two runs. That's three bonus runs for Rajasthan in this over.
Ravichandran Ashwin to bowl his second over.
11.1 : R Ashwin to Jos Buttler, Gives this air on off, Buttler drives this to mid off to give his partner the strike.
11.2 : R Ashwin to S Samson, Samson punches this to long on to rotate strike.
11.3 : R Ashwin to Jos Buttler, Pushed to the cover region by Jos. They pick up a single.
11.4 : R Ashwin to S Samson, Slower ball outside off, Samson gets behind the ball and tries to paddle it but doesn't connect.
11.5 : R Ashwin to S Samson, Stays in the crease and cuts this past point for one.
11.6 : R Ashwin to Jos Buttler, Played to the point region by the batsman. The batsmen have run through for a single.
Mujeeb Ur Rahman to bowl his second over.
12.1 : Ur Rahman to Jos Buttler, Hits this through mid-wicket for another run. Rajasthan are happy to rotate the strikes here.
12.2 : Ur Rahman to S Samson, Rocks back and cuts this just behind the man at point for one.
12.3 : Ur Rahman to Jos Buttler, Plays this with soft hands through mid-wicket and gets two easy runs.
12.4 : Ur Rahman to Jos Buttler, Strides forward and drives this to the man at covers.
12.5 : Ur Rahman to Jos Buttler, Another run in that region. Buttler eases it through mid-wicket to get to the other end.
12.6 : Ur Rahman to S Samson, Bye. Slow ball outside off, it kept low and a wild swing from Samson. He misses and so does Rahul. The ball goes towards third man where they cross.
13.1 : R Ashwin to S Samson, SIX! There it is! Finally Samson cuts loose. Lofts this over the bowler's head for half a dozen.
13.2 : R Ashwin to S Samson, Gives this air and tosses it around off, Samson plays and misses.
13.3 : R Ashwin to S Samson, Played to mid-wicket region by the batsman. They pick up a single.
13.4 : R Ashwin to Jos Buttler, Now Buttler eases this through mid-wicket for one more.
13.5 : R Ashwin to S Samson, FOUR! Cut and cut hard. Short ball outside off, Samson cuts it through point for a boundary. The 50-run stand comes up with this.
13.6 : R Ashwin to S Samson, Samson turns the face of his bat and guides it to backward point. They take a quick single.
Strategic break!
14.1 : Ur Rahman to S Samson, Punches this down the ground to long on for a single.
14.2 : Ur Rahman to Jos Buttler, Swings hard and gets it off the inner half through-wicket for one more.
14.3 : Ur Rahman to S Samson, OUT! I don't want to say ikt but another wicket falls after the break. Tossed up ball from Mujeeb on middle and leg, Samson being positive looks to clear the mid-wicket boundary. Doesn't get enough power on it and finds Tiwary at the boundary.
Ben Stokes joins his fellow Englishman in the middle.
14.4 : Ur Rahman to Ben Stokes, Darts this fuller on leg, Stokes gets an inside edge to this. The ball goes to square leg where they take a run.
14.5 : Ur Rahman to Jos Buttler, Eases this towards mid-wicket for a single.
14.6 : Ur Rahman to Ben Stokes, Punched off the back foot by the batsman. The batsmen have run through for a single.
15.1 : R Ashwin to Ben Stokes, FOUR! Stand and deliver stuff from Stokes. Hits this hard over Ashwin's head for a one bounce boundary.
15.2 : R Ashwin to Ben Stokes, Creams this to sweeper cover for one.
15.3 : R Ashwin to Jos Buttler, Buttler works this to deep mid-wicket and comes back for the second run.
15.4 : R Ashwin to Jos Buttler, Rocks back and finds the man at covers.
15.5 : R Ashwin to Jos Buttler, DROPPED! Akshdeep Nath has put down Buttler. Ashwin gives this air on leg, Buttler gets a top edge on this trying to clear mid-wicket. The ball flies towards extra cover where Nath from the deep hares to it but puts it down. Maybe he was distracted by Manoj running from cover. They take three.
15.6 : R Ashwin to Ben Stokes, The batsman rocks onto the back foot and punches the ball. One run added to the total.
16.1 : Ur Rahman to Ben Stokes, Stokes sweeps this to square leg and picks up one.
16.2 : Ur Rahman to Jos Buttler, OUT! A well-played innings from Buttler comes to an end. Mujeeb now moves on top of the list of the leading wicket-takers. Sees Buttler charging so drags his length back on middle and leg. Buttler swings and misses the ball. It goes through to Rahul who takes the bails off. An important wicket for Punjab as Buttler could have made the difference towards the end.
Stuart Binny is the new man in.
16.3 : Ur Rahman to S Binny, Binny cuts this straight to the man at point. Dot ball.
16.4 : Ur Rahman to S Binny, The short of length delivery has been cut away through square on the off side straight to the fielder.
16.5 : Ur Rahman to S Binny, Binny is off the mark. Hits this towards mid on to pick his first run.
16.6 : Ur Rahman to Ben Stokes, Long appeal but nothing from the umpire. Serves this slow on leg, Stokes misses his flicks and gets wore on his pads. They think of the review but decide against it. Good over from Mujeeb.
Andrew Tye is called back to bowl at the death.
17.1 : A Tye to S Binny, Played to the point region by the batsman. One run added to the total.
17.2 : A Tye to Ben Stokes, Carves this over the man at short third man. It won't go all the way but enough to get three.
17.3 : A Tye to S Binny, SIX! This one is for the haters. Overpitched ball on middle, Binny lofts it over long on for a maximum.
17.4 : A Tye to S Binny, Played through mid-wicket by the batsman. They manage to come back for the second.
17.5 : A Tye to S Binny, Binny punches this ball towards mid off. They pick up a single.
A run out appeal is taken upstairs. Binny looks to be safe let's see.
17.6 : A Tye to Ben Stokes, OUT! To our surprise, Binny is well short of his crease. He looked safe to the naked eye, but not to be. Stokes drills this to long off and thinks of the second. They come back but Nair there gets in a good throw at the non-striker's end. They take it upstairs and find out Binny is short.
Mahipal Lomror walks out next to bat and Mohit Sharma will bowl the 19th over.
18.1 : M Sharma to M Lomror, Slower short ball, the batsman attempts to hook that one but fails to make contact.
18.2 : M Sharma to M Lomror, Slower ball outside off, Lomror fails to read it and the ball goes through to the keeper.
18.3 : M Sharma to M Lomror, The batsman has lofted that over mid-wicket and gives Stokes the strike.
Free Hit coming up...
18.4 : M Sharma to Ben Stokes, No ball! High full toss on leg, Stokes charges and hits it over mid-wicket. He doesn't want the single because he wanted to face the Free Hit but then takes the run anyway.
M Sharma to M Lomror, Good ball. Full and outside off, Lomror swings and misses. No damage from the Free Hit.
Another run out appeal has been taken up. This time Lomror doesn't look like he has made it. Are we going to get it right?
18.5 : M Sharma to M Lomror, Hits this aerially over mid-wicket and it will fall short of the man in the deep. They come back for the second.
18.6 : M Sharma to M Lomror, Slow ball outside off, Lomror once again fails to make contact. Very good over from Mohit. Just 5 from it.
19.1 : A Tye to Ben Stokes, OUT! Stokes fails to make an impact in the last over. Slower ball from Tye outside off, Stokes gets low and reaches for it. Ends up taking it on the full, giving a simple catch to Ashwin at covers. Rajasthan losing wickets trying to up the scoring.
Jofra Archer is the new man in.
19.2 : A Tye to M Lomror, Lomror has just lofted it over mid off. They pick up a single.
19.3 : A Tye to J Archer, In the air... and taken! Manoj Tiwary takes another catch. Slow ball in line of the stumps, Archer swings but gets more height than distance. The ball goes towards long off, where Tiwary settles under it and takes a very good catch. Tye gets his second of the over.
Jaydev Unadkat walks out to bat.
19.4 : A Tye to M Lomror, FOUR! Steaky but handy! Lomror paddles this over short fine leg for a boundary. Welcome runs for the hosts.
19.5 : A Tye to M Lomror, A short delivery which has been pulled away to deep square leg. One run added to the total.
19.6 : A Tye to J Unadkat, OUT! Three wickets in the over and some excellent bowling by Tye in the death. Bowls this full on middle and leg, Unadkat lofts this over mid on but finds Nair in the deep. Just six off the last over and RAJASTHAN END WITH 158/8!
Punjab will be happier of the two sides going into the break. Rajasthan, after opting to bat, started off well with Buttler firing away. Wickets fell around him though and soon he had to put the brakes on his scoring rate. Sanju Samson too, could get going and that created more pressure, to which Buttler eventually succumbed after scoring 82. Mujeeb Ur Rahman stifled the run flow and picked up two wickets, and towards the end, Andrew Tye cleaned up the tail, scalping 4 in total. Punjab will back
0.0 : We are back for the chase! Punjab's two dashing openers, Chris Gayle and KL Rahul, stride out in the center. The Rajasthan players take their position and have given Krishnappa Gowtham the new ball. A slip is in place. Let's see how they go about their defense.
0.1 : K Gowtham to L Rahul, Quicker one just outside off, Rahul meets it with a straight bat and pushes it away from him.
0.2 : K Gowtham to L Rahul, Loud shout for a leg before, denied! Good call from Buttler, Gowtham wanted the review but he was adamant to not go for it. Floated up around off, not much turn on it as Rahul gets low to sweep. Fails to connect and is rapped on the front pad. The keeper says the impact is outside off, and replays confirm he's right. Well done.
0.3 : K Gowtham to L Rahul, FOUR! Shot. Makes use of the feet to get close to the pitch and lofts it cleanly over covers to find the fence.
0.4 : K Gowtham to L Rahul, Full in length, outside off, Rahul drives it hard but finds the man at cover.
0.5 : K Gowtham to L Rahul, Straighter one outside off, fullish in length, pushed to the covers again.
0.6 : K Gowtham to L Rahul, Waits for the ball to come to him before running it down to short third man. Good, tidy first over from Gowtham.
Jofra Archer to bowl from the other end.
1.1 : J Archer to C Gayle, Short of a good length, moving away from around off, Gayle throws his bat and it and cuts it down to third man for a single.
1.2 : J Archer to L Rahul, Keeps it close to off and bowls it on a back of a length, Rahul from within his crease blocks it out.
1.3 : J Archer to L Rahul, On the shorter side of the length, a touch further outside off this time, KL rises on his toes and drops it down on the off side.
1.4 : J Archer to L Rahul, Opens the face of the bat and dabs the shorter ball straight to point.
1.5 : J Archer to L Rahul, This is the beauty of the Powerplay for the batsmen. Just clear the infield and you're safe. Rahul does just that. Full in length, he backs away and lifts it over cover-point. Picks up two runs for it.
1.6 : J Archer to L Rahul, SIX! Uses the pace of Archer and clears the fence this time. Short ball banged in, Rahul makes room, comes down the track and sends it sailing over deep backward point for a maximum.
2.1 : K Gowtham to C Gayle, OUT! Gayle is gone! Krishnappa Gowtham gets the breakthrough. Superb delivery. Probably knows Gayle is going to charge out, and he does, so Gowtham fires it full and down the leg side. Gayle misses and Buttler behind the stumps whips the bails off in a flash. No need for the replays, the square leg umpire raises his finger instantly. Wide signalled, but Rajasthan won't care. They have the big wicket of the West Indian.
0.0 : Ravichandran Ashwin is the next batsman in. What a surprising move. Nobody would have seen that coming. Not sure the motive behind the move.
2.1 : K Gowtham to R Ashwin, Outside off, pushed into the covers for no run.
2.2 : K Gowtham to R Ashwin, OUT! The move to promote himself up the order has failed miserably. The Punjab skipper is gone on the second ball. Gowtham lands it outside off, just behind a driving length, Ashwin with no foot movement looks to go big downtown. It spins in, goes right through the gate and knocks the bails over.
Karun Nair to bat next.
2.3 : K Gowtham to K Nair, Nair gets off the mark with a little flick off the pads onto the leg side. Single taken.
2.4 : K Gowtham to L Rahul, Gets close to the pitch of the ball with a little shimmy down the track and knocks it to long on for one.
2.5 : K Gowtham to K Nair, Leans ahead, it's full in length. Nair drives it to long off for a single.
2.6 : K Gowtham to L Rahul, The batsman has pushed it to the cover region. A successful over from Gowtham comes to an end. 2 wickets and 4 runs off it. Superb.
3.1 : J Archer to K Nair, Good length delivery in the channel outside off, Nair with an open face runs it down to third man and crosses over.
3.2 : J Archer to L Rahul, Nice played. Leans across a bit and then whips the length ball on middle to deep square leg. One more to the total.
3.3 : J Archer to K Nair, Archer slightly takes the pace off on this occasion, bowls it on a back of a length. Karun Nair stays back and gets an inside edge onto his pads.
3.4 : J Archer to K Nair, OUT! GONE! Another wicket down. Karun Nair departs. Rajasthan are off to a superb start. Archer bangs it in short on off, Nair looks to pull but the bounce gets too big on him. Gets a top edge which balloons towards mid-wicket, where Unadkat backpedals and takes a tumbling catch.
Akshdeep Nath to bat next.
3.5 : J Archer to L Rahul, Behind a length with width offered outside off, cut square through point for a run.
3.6 : J Archer to A Nath, Pounds a back of a length ball on off, too close for Rahul to do anything but block it down on the off side.
Jaydev Unadkat brought on to bowl.
4.1 : J Unadkat to L Rahul, Angles across a length delivery outside off, Rahul plays away from his body and gets an edge through the vacant slip cordon. It rolls down to third man and a single is taken. The man in the deep does well to mop it up.
4.2 : J Unadkat to A Nath, Another edge. This time there was a slip in place too but it's gone well wide of him. Back of a length angling across, Nath closes the face a bit early and spoons a leading edge through short third man. One run taken.
4.3 : J Unadkat to L Rahul, Fraction straight in line, Rahul wrists it in front of square leg and takes two.
4.4 : J Unadkat to L Rahul, Skidding off the deck a bit, on a length on off, KL offers a firm punch to the man at point.
4.5 : J Unadkat to L Rahul, Behind a length on off, tapped down in front of backward point. The batsmen are off their lines quickly and cross over with ease.
4.6 : J Unadkat to A Nath, Shaping away from a good length on off, pats this with a slightly opened face to point for nothing. Tight over from Unadkat comes to an end.
Ben Stokes introduced into the bowling attack.
5.1 : Ben Stokes to L Rahul, FOUR! Almost. Just over the fielder. Full and wide outside off, Rahul slices this, barely, over the leaping fielder at backward point for a boundary.
5.2 : Ben Stokes to L Rahul, Full and straight from Stokes, KL with a beautiful straight bat drives it back down the track. It goes off the Stokes and rolls away towards mid off.
5.3 : Ben Stokes to L Rahul, Angling in on a good length on off, Rahul gets a safe leading edge towards covers.
5.4 : Ben Stokes to L Rahul, Leans ahead and drives it to covers. Dot ball.
5.5 : Ben Stokes to L Rahul, FOUR! Finds the gap this time. Wasn't a bad ball at all, but that's an excellent shot from KL. Just ahead of a length on the fourth stump line, Rahul drives it through the gap in the covers and sends it across the boundary line.
5.6 : Ben Stokes to L Rahul, Good effort there from the fielder. Rahul drives this towards cover, where the fielder makes a good stop. Nath wanted the run, but was sent back.
Ish Sodhi to roll his arm over.
What do we have here? A review straightaway. It's for an lbw decision against Akshdeep Nath. Possibly pad first? Let's see...
6.1 : Ish Sodhi to A Nath, Safe! Interesting... the trajectory looked different in real time. Hmm.. Anyway, Nath is safe. Sodhi lands it on off, it turns a touch and catches Nath on the front pad. Loud shout, turned down but the Kiwi wants to review it thinking it's pad first. It's taken upstairs and replays show it is pad first, but it's missing the off stump. The turn took it away.
6.2 : Ish Sodhi to A Nath, Another shout, no chance this would be given out. Nath skips down the track and looks to work it across the line, is caught on the pads and there's no chance the umpire would respond to the appeal. The batsman was too far out.
6.3 : Ish Sodhi to A Nath, Drags it short around off, pulled away to deep mid-wicket for one.
6.4 : Ish Sodhi to L Rahul, Sharp turn! Wowza! Sodhi pitches it on leg and it turns past the edge and the off stick. Into the keeper's gloves and that's a superb delivery.
6.5 : Ish Sodhi to L Rahul, Punched through to sweeper cover for one.
6.6 : Ish Sodhi to A Nath, Flatter, quicker and straighter outside off, Nath misses his attempted reverse paddle.
Mahipal Lomror to have a go with the ball.
7.1 : M Lomror to L Rahul, Drives this sweetly through the covers and gets off strike.
7.2 : M Lomror to A Nath, Another one through the same area, better placement this time. It will fetch the batsmen two good runs.
7.3 : M Lomror to A Nath, Comes forward to this full delivery and blocks with the full face of the bat.
7.4 : M Lomror to A Nath, FOUR! Shot. Charges out of the crease, opens his body up and goes inside out through covers. Nicely done from Nath, it will fetch him a boundary.
7.5 : M Lomror to A Nath, Flighted ball on the stumps, it's swept past short fine leg for a single.
7.6 : M Lomror to L Rahul, The batsman has punched the ball off the back foot to long on. One run added to the total.
8.1 : Ish Sodhi to L Rahul, Googly landed just outside off, Rahul is a bit cramped for room as he backs away to cut. Gets it away past first slip but no run taken.
8.2 : Ish Sodhi to L Rahul, Leg break full on off, Rahul comes forward and defends.
8.3 : Ish Sodhi to L Rahul, Slightly short in length, this time KL blocks from the back foot.
8.4 : Ish Sodhi to L Rahul, Spinning away, cut away square through point for an easy single.
8.5 : Ish Sodhi to A Nath, Good delivery. Nice flight on that as Sodhi pitches it on off, on a driving length. Nath goes deep inside the crease and taps it down on the off side.
8.6 : Ish Sodhi to A Nath, OUT! Sodhi strikes! Nath departs. Looped up on off, it's the leg break and Nath kneels down to play the big slog sweep. A big top edge and it skies towards long off. Krishnappa Gowtham settles himself under the ball and takes a lovely reverse cup catch. Punjab need 114 runs to win in 11 overs.
Strategic break. Rajasthan are on top here. We're not even at the halfway mark and 4 wickets are down. Though, Rahul is still out there and he showed last time out that he can take the game away late in the innings. Interesting phase of play coming up for both teams.
Manoj Tiwary is next in.
9.1 : M Lomror to L Rahul, FOUR! Superb shot. Rahul continues to play his shot. Sees the ball landed short, so he rocks back quickly and muscles the pull through the mid-wicket area for a boundary.
9.2 : M Lomror to L Rahul, Floats it up outside off, drives it just wide of long off for a double.
9.3 : M Lomror to L Rahul, Stays within his crease and pushes it comfortably to long on for a single.
9.4 : M Lomror to M Tiwary, Goes with the spin and pushes it into the covers for just the one.
9.5 : M Lomror to L Rahul, Played to the point region by KL. They pick up a single.
9.6 : M Lomror to M Tiwary, Flicked away in front of square leg for a single. The batsmen wanted the second but the fielder was too quick to the ball.
10.1 : Ish Sodhi to M Tiwary, Bit quicker through the air, full outside off, Tiwary gets low and drags the sweep through mid-wicket for a brace.
10.2 : Ish Sodhi to M Tiwary, Easily knocks the full ball towards long off. One run added to the total.
10.3 : Ish Sodhi to L Rahul, Slower through the air, on off, Rahul kneels down to play the reverse sweep. Gets it off the forearm and over the slip fielder. Leg bye taken.
10.4 : Ish Sodhi to M Tiwary, No spin on this occasion, on middle stump, clipped in front of square on the leg side for a run.
10.5 : Ish Sodhi to L Rahul, Darts it quicker on leg, it's going down and catches Rahul low on the pads as he misses his flick shot.
10.6 : Ish Sodhi to L Rahul, Pushed to the cover region by the batsman. The batsmen have run through for a single.
Ben Stokes is back.
11.1 : Ben Stokes to L Rahul, Fuller and straighter in line, Rahul clips it down to fine leg and jogs across to the other end.
11.2 : Ben Stokes to M Tiwary, Short of a good length outside off, Tiwary offers a solid punch square on the off side. Straight to the point fielder.
11.3 : Ben Stokes to M Tiwary, The batsman has nudged the ball fine down the leg side. The batsmen have run through for a single.
11.4 : Ben Stokes to L Rahul, Length delivery in the off stump channel, Rahul takes a step across and flicks it to the right of deep mid-wicket. Two runs taken.
11.5 : Ben Stokes to L Rahul, Kicking off the surface outside off, cut away square on the off side through point. One run taken.
11.6 : Ben Stokes to M Tiwary, OUT! Stokes gets his first of the game. Tiwary fails to make an impact. Length ball on off, angling in as Tiwary looks to work it across the line. Spoons a leading edge towards Rahane at cover who dives forward and takes a good catch.
Axar Patel comes into the middle next. Also, Krishnappa Gowtham is back on to bowl.
12.1 : K Gowtham to L Rahul, FOUR! Oh dear... Rahul just about survives. Gowtham has been superb tonight. Bowls it around off, it spins in sharply and beats the inside edge of Rahul's hanging bat. Past the off stump and the keeper and it races away to the fence behind.
12.2 : K Gowtham to L Rahul, Works it around the corner and takes one.
12.3 : K Gowtham to A Patel, The batsman has driven that ball straight back. One run added to the total.
12.4 : K Gowtham to L Rahul, Outside off, Rahul plays and misses.
12.5 : K Gowtham to L Rahul, Worked away through mid-wicket and gets off strike.
12.6 : K Gowtham to A Patel, The batsman has played it towards mid-wicket. They pick up a single.
Anureet Singh on to bowl.
13.1 : A Singh to A Patel, Slower short ball on middle and leg, Axar pulls it away through backward square leg. Fine leg comes across to his right and keeps the batsmen to two.
13.2 : A Singh to A Patel, FOUR! Length delivery on the stumps and it's the slower one, Axar picks it up and lofts it over mid-wicket for a boundary.
A run out appeal against Axar Patel. It looks close. Really close. Could go either way...
13.3 : A Singh to A Patel, OUT! Excellent throw from Binnyin the deep. Axar slogs across the line through mid-wicket and quickly calls for the second. Binny from wide long on moves to his left, gets to the ball and fires in an qccurate throw to Buttler, who takes the bails off in a flash. Axar dives in and the decision is taken upstairs. Replays show he's gone. Punjab in trouble here now. 78 off 39 needed to win. Marcus Stoinis is the next batsman in.
13.4 : A Singh to M Stoinis, Back of a length close to off, Stoinis defends it back to the bowler.
13.5 : A Singh to M Stoinis, Slower short ball outside off, Stoinis plays the ramp shot to third man and takes a single.
13.6 : A Singh to L Rahul, FOUR! 9th Indian T20 League fifty for KL Rahul! Another one in his tally. He's been in sublime touch this season, needs to finish this game off. Pulls this short ball away through mid-wicket for a boundary.
Ish Sodhi back on.
14.1 : Ish Sodhi to M Stoinis, Picks it off his pads and works it away on the leg side for a single.
14.2 : Ish Sodhi to L Rahul, Comes forward and buries the spinning ball in its tracks.
14.3 : Ish Sodhi to L Rahul, Leg break, spinning away from around off, Rahul cuts it through point and comes back for the second.
14.4 : Ish Sodhi to L Rahul, Another square cut, single this time.
14.5 : Ish Sodhi to M Stoinis, The batsman rocks onto the back foot and punches the ball. They pick up a single.
14.6 : Ish Sodhi to L Rahul, Punched down the ground to long on for a run.
Strategic break signalled. 67 runs needed off the last five overs. The two men out there are the best ones for the job. Can they do it? Or will Rajasthan pull off a vital victory? Some interesting action is coming either way.
Jaydev Unadkat comes on to bowl.
15.1 : J Unadkat to L Rahul, Angling back from a length on the stumps, Rahul flicks it through square leg. Big gap out there, the batsmen easily manage to come back for the second.
15.2 : J Unadkat to L Rahul, Cutter outside off, coming back in, pushed through extra cover for one.
15.3 : J Unadkat to M Stoinis, Length ball outside off, slightly slower in pace, Stoinis gives the charge and swings. Gets a bottom edge behind to the right of the keeper for a single.
15.4 : J Unadkat to L Rahul, Cut away square on the off side for another one.
15.5 : J Unadkat to M Stoinis, Slower length delivery outside off, Stoinis cuts, but finds backward point.
15.6 : J Unadkat to M Stoinis, Another slower one, fraction straight in line, Stoinis moves inside the line and works it in front of square leg for a run.
Jofra Archer back into the attack.
16.1 : J Archer to M Stoinis, Stoinis makes room so Archer follows him with a full ball on the pads. The Australian lofts it over mid-wicket and gets to the other end.
16.2 : J Archer to L Rahul, Rahul once again makes room, Archer follows him again, this time with a yorker. KL can only squeeze it out on the leg side for a single.
16.3 : J Archer to M Stoinis, Similar to the previous two deliveries. It's worked away on the leg side for a single.
16.4 : J Archer to L Rahul, Yorker attacking the stumps, Rahul squeezes it out to point for one.
16.5 : J Archer to M Stoinis, Slower bouncer on the stumps, Stoinis doesn't pick it up and fails to play any kind of shot.
16.6 : J Archer to M Stoinis, Another yorker, excellent over from Jofra Archer. Stoinis can only squeeze it out on the off side. 57 required off the last 3 overs.
17.1 : J Unadkat to L Rahul, FOUR! Positive start to the over from Rahul. Gives the charge to this back of a length delivery and pulls it over mid-wicket for a boundary.
17.2 : J Unadkat to L Rahul, Waits for the ball to come, and then runs it down to third man for a single.
17.3 : J Unadkat to M Stoinis, Marginally ahead of a length, on off stump, Marcus makes room and lofts it to the left of long off. Will get two runs comfortably.
17.4 : J Unadkat to M Stoinis, On a length again, on off, slapped after backing away to long off for a single.
17.5 : J Unadkat to L Rahul, Speared full and wide outside off, KL looks to play the reverse paddle but toe-ends it square on the off side. Single taken.
17.6 : J Unadkat to M Stoinis, Beautifully bowled. Yorker darted outside off, Stoinis manages only an inside edge back to Buttler on a couple of bounces.
18.1 : J Archer to L Rahul, Slower length delivery just outside off, Rahul walks across his sticks and sweeps it over backward square leg. The fielder in the deep comes inside and restricts the single to just the one.
18.2 : J Archer to M Stoinis, Another yorker from Archer, outside the line of off stump, Marcus digs it out in front of cover and brings Rahul on strike.
18.3 : J Archer to L Rahul, Archer and yorkers - a better love story than Twilight. Superb. Fires it in, on the stumps this time, Rahul works it through mid-wicket and gets a couple of runs for it.
18.4 : J Archer to L Rahul, FOUR! Good adjustment from KL Rahul. Credit to Archer too, he did well actually. Seeing Rahul walk across the stumps, he bowls it wide outside off. Rahul prepares for the paddle at first, but then quickly adjusts and slaps it through mid off. Unadkat gives it the chase, but can't keep it in. Boundary.
18.5 : J Archer to L Rahul, FOUR! Consecutive boundaries for KL! Fuller around off, Rahul goes across and scoops it over short fine leg for a boundary.
18.6 : J Archer to L Rahul, FOUR! Three in a row. Once more, goes across and lifts it over short fine leg to find the fence. 32 required off the last over. Too much left probably for Punjab to do.
19.1 : J Unadkat to M Stoinis, OUT! Stoinis has to make the long walk back! Low full toss wide outside off, Stoinis carves this over covers. Hits it flat and that becomes his undoing. Straight to Gowtham out in the deep who takes it above his head. Holds a cool pose too as he puts the ball in his pocket and stands there with his arms folded. Lovely.
Andrew Tye is the new man in.
19.2 : J Unadkat to A Tye, Full in length, attacking the stumps, Tye drills it towards mid on for a single.
19.3 : J Unadkat to L Rahul, No ball! High full toss from Jaydev, Rahul walks across the line to paddle scoop it, but only inside edges it towards square leg. No run taken, he wants to face the Free Hit coming up now.
J Unadkat to L Rahul, SIX! Makes full use of it. It's full and outside off, Rahul gets behind the ball and launches it over wide long off for a maximum. This is now his highest score in this edition of the Indian T20 League.
19.4 : J Unadkat to L Rahul, Technically a dropped, but such a difficult chance. Full on the stumps, Rahul hammers it right back at Unadkat. He tries to catch it but takes a blow on his forearm. No run taken.
19.5 : J Unadkat to L Rahul, FOUR! Boundary, all but over now though. Full and outside off, Rahul brings out the reverse paddle and clears short third man's head to send it across the rope.
19.6 : J Unadkat to L Rahul, FOUR! Another boundary, but RAJASTHAN WIN BY 15 RUNS! Rahul carries his bat through but it goes in vain. Unleashes the reverse paddle to find the third man fence, is left stranded on 95. Heartbreak for him.
Spare a thought for KL Rahul. He was the lone man standing for Punjab as he fell 5 short of what would have been an impressive ton. With a target of 159 to chase, the visitors didn't get off to the best of starts. Lost three wickets inside the Powerplay and most of the damage was done then and there. The rest who followed after that, couldn't hang around long enough as wickets kept falling at regular intervals. Rahul was the only one to put up a real fight, but he alone could not get the job don
Rajasthan were right on the money with the ball. They needed early wickets with a total just about par, and they got just that as Krishnappa Gowtham provided a double breakthrough in a single over. The rest then chipped in as the game went on. What they did best though, was that despite Rahul scoring, they kept the other end tight and eventually got the rewards for it. A special mention for Jofra Archer, he was stupendous in the death with this yorkers and ensured the hitting to be done came too
Jos Buttler is declared as the Man of the Match. His 82 off 58 was instrumental in Rajasthan getting off to a flying start and eventually, getting a total which proved to be good enough for a win.
Right, we're done and dusted here. Rajasthan bag two vital points, move to 6th place and also make it a clean 5-0 record at home against Punjab. A good night for them. Punjab suffer a defeat against the home side in the return fixture, they are still third but they'd like to improve certain areas. Moving on, the next game is between Kolkata and Mumbai at the Eden Gardens on 9th May at 2000 local (1430 GMT). Do join in for that. Cheers!