Punjab Kings down Rajasthan Royals in low-scoring affair: Key stats
Punjab Kings earned a win over Rajasthan Royals in Match 65 of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 season at Barsapara Cricket Stadium, Guwahati, on Wednesday. RR managed a score of 144/9 in 20 overs. Riyan Parag smashed 48. Harshal Patel impressed for PBKS. In response, PBKS rode on Sam Curran's half-century to get past RR's score. Here are the details.
A look at the match summary
RR didn't get to a good start and that pegged them behind. Parag and Ravichandran Ashwin steadied the ship for the Royals with a 50-run partnership. RR kept losing wickets but Parag held his fort and scored useful runs. Harshal was superb at the death. In response, PBKS were 48/4 before Curran and Jitesh Sharma added 63 runs. Avesh Khan and Yuzvendra Chahal impressed.
First bowler with 15-plus scalps in overs 16-20 this season
Harshal became the first bowler this season with 15-plus wickets in overs 16-20. Harshal owns 16 wickets in the death overs at 13.18 (ER: 10.55). He has bowled 37 dot balls during this phase. Jasprit Bumrah is next with 11 wickets in overs 16-20 this season. Meanwhile, Arshdeep Singh, Mukesh Kumar, T Natarajan and Tushar Deshpande are next with nine scalps each.
Harshal gets the Purple Cap once again
Harshal owns 22 wickets this season at 19.45 from 13 matches. He steered clear of Bumrah, who owns 20 scalps at 16.80 from 13 games too. Harshal and Bumrah are the only bowlers with 20-plus scalps in IPL 2024.
First pacer with 20-plus IPL wickets against RR
As per ESPNcricinfo, Harshal now has 21 wickets versus the Royals in 14 matches at 16.23. He is now the first pacer to register 20-plus scalps against the Royals in IPL history. Harshal surpassed Mohammed Shami (19 wickets). Overall, the former RCB pacer became the 4th bowler with 20-plus wickets versus RR after Amit Mishra (31), Piyush Chawla (24) and Ravindra Jadeja (21).
Parag surpasses 500 runs in IPL 2024
Parag smashed six fours in his knock of 48. In 13 matches (12 innings) this season, Parag owns 531 runs at 66.37. He has struck at 153.46 (50s: 4). He is currently the 4th-highest scorer this season after Virat Kohli (661), Ruturaj Gaikwad (583) and Travis Head (533). Meanhile RR skipper Sanju Samson raced to 504 runs from 13 games at 56.
Parag joins an elite list of players with this record
As per Cricbuzz, Parag now owns the fourth-most runs by a batter from No. 4 or below in an IPL season. 579 - Rishabh Pant - DC, 2018 (Avg: 57.90, SR: 175.98) 538 - Rohit Sharma - MI, 2013 (Avg: 38.42, SR: 131.54) 531* - Parag - RR, 2024 (Avg: 59, SR: 152.58) 513 - Glenn Maxwell - RCB, 2021 (Avg: 42.75, SR: 144.10)
Joint-highest wicket-taker for RR in IPL
Chahal finished with 2/31 from his four overs. Former RCB spinner Chahal now owns 65 scalps for RR in the IPL at 21.96. He is the joint-highest wicket-taker for RR in IPL history, matching the tally of former pacer Siddharth Trivedi (65). Overall, Chahal has claimed 204 IPL scalps at 22.18. In the IPL 2024 season, Chahal has bagged 17 scalps at 27.58.
Curran and Chahar impress with the ball for Punjab
Curran dismissed Yashasvi Jaiswal and Dhruv Jurel to manage 2/24 from three overs. In the IPL 2024 season, Curran has raced to 16 scalps at 26. Overall in the tournament, he has 58 wickets from 59 matches at 32.75. PBKS spinner Rahul Chahar bagged 2/26 from his four overs. In 77 IPL games, Chahar has bagged 75 scalps at 27.97.
Curran slams his fifth IPL fifty
Curran scored a superb 41-ball 63*. He registered five fours and three sixes. He has hammered 883 runs in the IPL at 25.22 (SR: 136.47). England all-rounder Curran hit his fifth fifty in the cash-rich league. In the ongoing season, Curran has 270 runs at 27 (50s: 2). In the 20-over format, Curran has smashed 3,150 runs at 21 (50s: 17).
RR remain second despite four straight defeats
RR suffered their fourth consecutive defeat this season. RR, who have already got a playoff ticket, remain second with 16 points from 13 matches (W8 L5). PBKS claimed their fifth win (10 points) and are placed ninth.
Curran joins a unique club
Curran became the fifth captain to clock 50-plus score and claim 2 wickets in an IPL match. 91 & 2/25 - Sourav Ganguly (KKR) vs Deccan Chargers, Hyderabad, 2008 50 & 3/22 - Yuvraj Singh (PBKS) vs RCB, Durban, 2009 66* & 4/29 - Yuvraj Singh (PWI) vs DC, Mumbai DYP, 2011 54 & 4/17 - JP Duminy (DC) vs SRH, Visakhapatnam, 2015
KKR will finish first on the points table
With this defeat for RR, Kolkata Knight Riders will finish first on the points table. KKR have 19 points from 13 matches (NRR: +1.428).
