IPL 2020: KXIP's winning streak comes to an end, RR register 7-wicket win

Rajasthan Royals (RR) - in the must-win match - beat Kings XI Punjab (KXIP) by seven wickets at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi.

Sent in to bat first, Chris Gayle smashed a 63-ball 99, while skipper KL Rahul hit 46 off 41 as KXIP posted 185 for four. However, in reply, Stokes' 26-ball 50 and Sanju Samson's 25-ball 48 helped RR chase down the total in 17.3 overs.

KXIP lost their first wicket in the opening over itself when Mandeep Singh got dismissed for a first-ball duck. Gayle and captain KL Rahul took the RR bowlers to the cleaners, stitching 120 runs partnership for the second wicket.

Nicholas Pooran too played a late cameo of 22 off just 10 deliveries with the help of three sixes. If he would have stuck a bit longer, the score could have gone past 200.

Gayle had four boundaries and eight sixes to his name but was out just two balls before the end of the innings. He showed his disappointment of missing out on a hundred by throwing down his bat. Gayle also reached a milestone and took his tally of sixes to 1001 in his glittering T20 career.

Coming in to chase, Ben Stokes and Robin Uthappa started the attack right from ball one. Stokes scored a quickfire fifty and got out to Chris Jordan.

Sanju Samson came to the crease and he and Uthappa added 51 runs for the second wicket before M Ashwin broke the partnership.

Steve Smith and Jos Buttler showed intent to get RR closer to win after KXIP picked up the big wicket of Samson who was run out for 48

At the end, when RR need a run to win, Jordan bowled a wide which sealed Rajasthan Royals’ seven-wicket win.