JAIPUR: In a high-scoring thriller at Sawai Mansingh Stadium, Harpreet Brar starred with the ball, taking 3 wickets for 22 runs to help Punjab Kings (PBKS) secure a 10-run win against Rajasthan Royals (RR). The victory moved PBKS to second place on the points table with 17 points, just behind Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB), who also have 17 points.
Chasing a mammoth 220, RR got off to a strong start with openers Yashasvi Jaiswal and Vaibhav Suryavanshi combining for a quick 76-run partnership. Brar was introduced early in the innings by stand-in captain Shashank Singh, as regular captain Shreyas Iyer was absent from the field.
Initially, Brar was hit for boundaries, but he soon turned the game around. He dismissed 14-year-old Suryavanshi, who scored 40 off 14 balls, caught at long-on. After the powerplay, RR was 89 for 1, well-positioned to chase down the target.
However, Brar’s spell changed the course of the match. He broke the partnership by dismissing Jaiswal, who scored 50 off 25 balls, and then clean bowled Riyan Parag with a well-executed arm ball. Azmatullah Omarzai and Marco Jansen later chipped in with two wickets each. Despite a costly over from Arshdeep Singh—who conceded 60 runs in four overs—his excellent 19th over, giving away only eight runs, kept PBKS in control.
Dhruv Jurel provided resistance with a quick half-century, keeping RR in the hunt until the last over. But after Jurel’s dismissal in the final over, RR’s chances diminished, and PBKS secured the win.
Earlier, PBKS posted a commanding 219/5 in 20 overs after opting to bat first. Opener Prabhsimran Singh started strongly, smashing three fours and a six before Tushar Deshpande dismissed him and fellow opener Priyansh Arya in quick succession. Debutant Owen, sent at number 3, fell without scoring, caught trying to clear the boundary.
Nehal Wadhera then anchored the innings, scoring a career-best 70 off 37 balls with five fours and five sixes. Shashank Singh contributed an unbeaten 59, while Azmatullah Omarzai added an impactful 21* off 9 balls as PBKS finished strongly.
Riyan Parag was the best bowler for RR, claiming 1/26 in three overs, while Tushar Deshpande took 2/37. Maphaka and Madhwal also took wickets but went for runs.
Brief Scores:
Punjab Kings: 219/5 in 20 overs (Nehal Wadhera 70, Shreyas Iyer 30, Shashank Singh 59*; Tushar Deshpande 2/37).
Rajasthan Royals: 209/7 in 20 overs (Yashasvi Jaiswal 50, Vaibhav Suryavanshi 40, Dhruv Jurel 53; Harpreet Brar 3/22).
Agencies