RR vs KXIP Highlights, IPL 2019 Match at Jaipur, Full cricket score: Punjab beat Rajasthan by 14 runs in thrilling contest

Last five overs today:

KXIP: 59/2

RR: 35/7

This is KXIP’s first victory at Jaipur in IPL against Royals out of six encounters.

The game appeared to be slipping out of its hands when Jos Buttler was in charge of the Rajasthan Royals’ pursuit of 185-run target but Kings XI Punjab clawed back magnificently after its skipper and off-spinner, R Ashwin, ‘Mankaded’ the dangerous Buttler. It was perhaps the only way Buttler could be dismissed tonight.

It was a signal for Kings XI Punjab to claim wickets by the heap, though it must be said that KL Rahul’s effort to catch Steve Smith at extra cover was another huge moment. Rajasthan Royals has only itself to blame for not managing the chase after being on top in the first half of its chase with Buttler’s half-century laying a grand platform.

The home side lost out when Ben Stokes tried to hit Afghanistan spinner Mujeeb-ur-Rehman out of the ground a second time and ended up skying a catch. Rajasthan Royals needed someone to approach the rest of the chase with a calm mind and it did find that batsman to see the team over the line, especially after the best bowler of the day Ashwin, had run out of his quota of overs.

The Kings breach the Royal fortress!

ALL OVER! Kings XI Punjab beat Rajasthan Royals by 14 runs. Geez it has been one helluva match. So many twists and turns, ebbs and flows but it was the visitors, who held their nerve to prevail in their opening fixture.

OUT! Unadkat is taken by surprise by a sharp bouncer, which he top edges but there is more drama as Nicholas Pooran and Ankit Rajpoot converge and collide, but the bowler has held on to the catch. Thankfully no injuries to any of the players. RR lose another one

Unadkat c and b Rajpoot 1(2)

After 19 overs,Rajasthan Royals 164/7 ( Krishnappa Gowtham 3 , Jaydev Unadkat 1)
 

Perfect penultimate over from Shami. Nailing the yorkers and varying the pace when needed. Royals continue to crumble and now need 21 and a miracle to win the game.

Kings XI Punjab appeared to have turned around a match that was slipping from its hands, running Jofra Archer out after he was involved in a mix up with K Gowtham in the penultimate over. With five wickets collapsing in a hurry, the Rajasthan Royals chase has all but come off the wheels.

Ankit Rajpoot followed that run out up with a caught and bowled dismissal of Jaydev Unadkat.

The home side will wonder why Ben Stokes had to chance his arm once too often against Mujeeb-ur-Rehman when the smarter option would have to play the rest of his deliveries out with risking it after he had hit a massive six.

OUT! What is happening!? Royals are in complete disarray. Their fortress is all but breached. Yorker from Shami and Archer is unable get bat on ball. Wanders for a quick bye but Gowtham isn’t interested. Pooran throws and misses, Shami collects it and whips the bails. Two batsmen strangled right in between

 Jofra Archer run out (Pooran/Shami) 2(2)

After 18 overs,Rajasthan Royals 158/6 ( Krishnappa Gowtham 0 , Jofra Archer 0)

The wheels have simply come off Royals’ chase. Suicidal batting from Stokes and Tripathi as they depart in Mujeeb’s over to leave 27 runs needed off 12 balls

Most runs conceded on IPL debut:

62 – MG Neser

58 – M Mortaza

55 – AV Choudhary

53 – JR Hopes

52 – JP Scantlebury Searles

51 – R Sathish, SAM CURRAN*

OUT! SIX and OUT! Stokes tries to repeat what he did the previous ball, but Mujeeb is up to the challenge, dragged the length a touch and Stokes couldn’t get all off it.
 

Stokes c (sub)Nair b Mujeeb 6(2)

Kings XI Punjab clawed back in to the game with the wickets of Steve Smith and Sanju Samson in Sam Curran’s final over, leaving Rajasthan  Royals with two new batsmen in the middle and needing 35 runs in the last three overs. Curran’s wickets came as some balm to the bowler who conceded 52 runs in his four overs

KL Rahul ran a long way from towards the extra cover boundary to dive and complete a fine catch to cut short Steve Smith’s innings on the Australian’s IPL comeback. Two balls later, Sanju Samson skyed a catch to Ashwin. It will need Ben Stokes to play a few lusty blows for Rajasthan Royals to cross the line.

After 17 overs,Rajasthan Royals 150/4 ( Ben Stokes 0 , )

Pretty eventful over that from Curran. He had no wickets for 48 runs off his first three overs. Here he comes and bowls perhaps the match turning over. Giving away just four runs and picking the wickets of two set batsmen. To counter Smith’s shuffle across the stumps, Curran bowls a very full delivery to Smith, which is followed by a loud appeal for a leg before. After it was given not out Ashwin challenged the decision only to be overtunned because the according to UltraEdge there was some bat involved. However, it doesn’t matter as Smith is out caught two balls later and soon after Samson followed.

OUT! Samson miscues a big hit down the ground and Ashwin settles under it to complete the catch. Ashwin is pumped and so is Curran. KXIP are back in it and how!

Samson c Ashwin b Sam Curran 30(25)

OUT! KL Rahul grabs a spectacular diving catch to end Smith’s stay and the former Australian captain becomes Curran’s maiden wicket in IPL. Curran slanted it full and across and Smith tries to arc back and slice it over covers, KL Rahul hares across the turf and puts in the dive to pull off a sensational catch.
 

Smith c Rahul b Sam Curran 19(16)

After 16 overs,Rajasthan Royals 146/2 ( Sanju Samson 27 , Steven Smith 19)

Besides the length ball that Samson struck for six. Shami sends down a very good over. RR take 11 runs off it and now the equation is 39 runs needed off 24 balls. The match has all the makings off it going down to the wire.

Rajasthan Royals took a while to overcome the shock of Kings XI Punjab captain and off-spinner R Ashwin doing a ‘Mankad’ to halt Jos Butter’s dominance but Steve Smith punished Sam Curran’s left-arm pace to leave the home side needing 10 runs an over in the last five overs to complete its chase of 185 for victory.

Smith looked a bit out of touch when he was unable to put away successive ‘free hits’ off Ankit Rajpoot in the 14th over but he pulled Curran to square leg and flicked him wristily for a six to take Rajasthan Royals to 135 for two in 15 overs. With Sanju Samson placing a price on his wicket at the other end, the home side can still fancy its chances of picking up full points.

After 15 overs,Rajasthan Royals 135/2 ( Sanju Samson 19 , Steven Smith 16)

Curran to Smith is probably going to on our telly for sometime later this year during the Ashes, but in the shortest format, Smith has the early bragging rights. After a slightly rusty start, Smith is gradually playing some really good shots. The flick for a six was mind blowing. Royals need 50 off 30 balls.

Steve Smith’s batting average in IPL:

1st innings : 35.91

2nd innings : 38.04

After 14 overs,Rajasthan Royals 118/2 ( Sanju Samson 16 , Steven Smith 3)

Despite two no-balls and obviously as many free-hits, Rajppot just gave away eight runs. RR couldn’t make of the two opportunities. Couple of swings and misses for Smith

After 13 overs,Rajasthan Royals 110/2 ( Sanju Samson 14 , Steven Smith 0)

Bizarre end to Buttler’s innings and look who walks in… Steve Smith is in. RR will need maintain their cool after what has unfolded. Chase is still on. The world waits to see the return of former Australian captain, can he be the hero in his first IPL game after the ban?

Rajasthan Royals star Jos Buttler’s immense maturity was on display through the middle-overs when he played out Kings XI Punjab skipper and off-spinner R Ashwin with calm diligence. His influence over Sanju Samson was also in evidence as the second-wicket pair handled the spinners, Ashwin and Mujeeb-ur-Rehman with a sensible approach.

It needed Ashwin to ‘Mankad’ Buttler out at the end of the 13th over. Buttler walked away angry after the TV umpire ruled him out after a knock of 69 (43 balls). It will be a dismissal that will be debated for a while after Buttler suggested that Ashwin appeared to halt in his bowling stride and vent his frustration.

At 110 for two in 13 overs, Rajasthan Royals still has its nose ahead as Ashwin has completed his quota of four overs (one for 20). Steve Smith joined Sanju Samson (14 off 15 balls) with Rajasthan Royals needing 75 off seven overs.

He ain’t winning any spirit of cricket awards is old ashwin

— Dale Steyn (@DaleSteyn62) March 25, 2019

Oh hell! Ashwin's run Butler out for backing up too far. Within the laws, but outside the spirt of the game. Unless the batsman had been cautioned earlier. We'll know about that later. For now, Punjab get coveted breakthru and the IPL its first major controversy this season

— Cricketwallah (@cricketwallah) March 25, 2019

OUT! Controversy erupts! R Ashwin has ran out Buttler even before he has bowled the delivery. Often called as ‘Mankanded’, Sunil Gavaskar would prefer it to be called ‘Browned’. Buttler is absolutely livid.Ashwin and he are involved in a heated arguement. The appeal is upheld. There is a lot of pointing. Replays confirm Buttler left his crease but doubts over Ashwin waited for the batsman to walk out of his crease during his delivery stride remain. Buttler has to walk but he unleashes what do not seem pleasant words. Tragic and controversial end to what has been a fabulous innings.

JC Buttler run out (Ashwin) 69

Jos Buttler continued his dominance of the Kings XI Punjab attack as he kept Rajasthan Royals’ pursuit of 185 for victory on track. His 64 off 35 balls (10 fours, two sixes) energised the stands in the Sawai Man Singh Stadium as Rajasthan Royals reached 96 for one at the halfway stage. He took Ankit Rapoot on in the 10th over after a run of three economic overs.

Sanju Samson, who walked in at Ajinkya Rahane’s fall, was happy to rotate the strike for Buttler to assert his class. Rajasthan Royals held the upper-hand after 8 overs in the chase. With the track, not playing true, Buttler’s batting made it Rajasthan Royals’ game to lose. Kings XI Punjab was left hoping that its spinners would deliver a couple of wickets soon.

After 12 overs,Rajasthan Royals 105/1 ( Jos Buttler (W) 67 , Sanju Samson 11)

Ashwin brings Mujeeb back into the attack and he slips in a good over. So the Kings XI have managed to apply the brakes somewhat. Now they need a wicket. Required rate inches to 10.

Most consecutive 50-plus scores against KXIP in IPL:

6 – David Warner

4 – Chris Gayle, JOS BUTTLER*

3 – Lendl Simmons