Punjab Kings vs Rajasthan Royals, 66th Match - Live Cricket Score, Commentary

RR have managed to sneak to 14 points. They were the blue-eyed team when the tourney began. But the second half of the tournament just didn't go their way and they have to be content with 14 points. Now, they need RCB and MI to lose their last respective game. Punjab are officially out. They have to settle with 12 points. They started off on fast lanes but slowed down considerably. And their campaign went off track. Even the high scoring Dharamsala didn't help their cause. They lost to DC the other day and have lost?to RR tonight. The last weekend of IPL 2023 and all the last 4 league games are very crucial for LSG, MI, RCB and CSK. Even for RR. We will be there to?detail it out to you. This is KAD signing off on behalf of Abhinand, Nikhil and Venky! Tadaaaaaaa....

Devdutt Padikkal, Player of the Match: Apart from the net sessions, my best hit. Coming into the season I was feeling good. But it didn't pan out the way I thought. Every game as a cricketer you want to win it for your side. To be honest, it has been that kind of a season. I have been all over the batting order. I need to learn batting at every position. At the start of the season, I thought I might not make it.

Sanju Samson: I think at the end of the game, when Hety (Hetmyer) was going strong we thought we will finish by 18.5. We have a quality team and it is a little shocking to see where we stand on the table. I have been talking about Jasiwal almost every game. He has shown maturity. It feels he has played 100 T20Is. Almost 90 percent of the times we feel Boult will take a wicket in the first over. We were under pressure in the last few games.

Shimron Hetmyer in IPL 2023
In wins: 201 runs at 100.5, SR: 168.9
In defeats: 98 runs at 16.33, SR: 125.64 (Five single-digit scores)

RR vs PBKS since 2020
Matches: 7
Won by RR: 5
Won by PBKS: 2

Shimron Hetmyer: I was trying to see how fast we can get the game finished. I was actually trying to get the game finish in 18, but I guess I didn't get enough of the strike to do that. Had a little dip in the middle, but that's how cricket goes sometimes. (On the duel with Curran) It's always good to have someone say something to me, it doesn't really happen much. I really enjoyed it today, giving me a little bit more confidence and a little bit more energy to execute and do what I need to do. (What was said by Curran?) Not anything I can disclose here to be honest.

Shikhar Dhawan: We lost too many wickets in the powerplay and that put us on the backfoot, but Curran, Jitesh and Shahrukh got us back in the game, the bowling was good (in patches), but the fielding wasn't great, the dropped catches cost us the game. I feel 200 should have been a good total on this pitch. We could have done better in all the areas I think. Sometimes the batting was clicking, and sometimes the bowling was clicking, we couldn't put up those performances together. But it's a young group, so we have learnt a lot of things this season. I knew I had to take the game deep, so I wanted my best bowlers to bowl early, so Rahul had to bowl the last over. In the last game I gave Harpreet the final over, it depends on the surface and the situation.

23:24 Local Time, 17:54 GMT, 23:24 IST: Coming into the chase RR needed a win and needed to win it by 18.3 overs to topple RCB momentarily. They haven't managed to chase it down in 18.3 overs but have managed to win a close game. Dhawan once again gambled with a spinner in the last over but again it hasn't helped him. He emptied his resources earlier than usual looking for wickets but that meant the last over which was to be bowled by Chahar, had only 9 runs to play with. The find for RR this season - Dhruv Jurel - managed to finish it off with a sixer. Earlier in the chase, Buttler once again fell for a duck. But Jaiswal and Padikkal scored fifties to get the chase back on track. Hetmyer played the role of the catalyst in hastening the chase. The underfire Parag also chipped in with a couple of sixes. And in the end, Jurel put the finishing touches. And with this loss, Punjab are officially out. While batting first, Punjab suffered a top-order collapse but 40s from Curran, Jitesh and Shahrukh Khan allowed them to post 187 on the board.

Rahul Chahar to Dhruv Jurel, SIX, the super over will have to wait this season. Dhruv Jurel dances down like a house on fire and smashes it over long-off. Got to the pitch of the ball and clubbed it over the fence. RR win. They are 0.03 behind RCB on the table

Rahul Chahar to Boult, 1 run, fuller length delivery, Boult whips that down to deep mid for a single. He is happy with the single. 5 needed now. Up for a super over?

Rahul Chahar to Dhruv Jurel, 1 run, gets too close to the ball and drills it down to long-off for a single. 6 needed off the final four balls

Usman Asif: Super Over Anyone?

Rahul Chahar to Dhruv Jurel, 2 runs, the third umpire has been called in. I feel Jurel has made it with the dive. That was turned away on to the on-side and the throw from the deep wasn't a great one. Jurel always wanted a second. He made it

Rahul Chahar [3.0-0-18-1] is back into the attack

Sam Curran to Boult, no run, Boult at 8 tells you the batting line up for RR is very thin. Was cue-ended down to deep mid. Rahul Chahar will bowl it. They didn't take the single. So, Jurel will be on strike.

Trent Boult, right handed bat, comes to the crease

Sam Curran to Hetmyer, out Caught by Dhawan!! Curran wins the little battle. But Hetmyer had done the damage I feel. Was a fuller ball, outside off, Hetmyer wanted to go over cover again but cue-ended the shot owing to the lack of pace on the ball. The ball was dipping on Dhawan but he did well to grab it by diving forward. 9 still needed and the set batter is gone. Hetmyer c Dhawan b Sam Curran 46(28) [4s-4 6s-3]

Sam Curran to Hetmyer, THATS OUT!! Caught!!

Third umpire has been asked to take the call whether Dhawan at cover has managed to take it or not. That was a widish length delivery, Hetmyer threw his hands at it but failed to time it well. The ball was dying on Dhawan but it seems he has managed to take it. OUT is the call! Right call as well.

Sam Curran to Hetmyer, FOUR, that's too easy for Hetmyer! Length delivery, outside off, sits up and Hetmyer hits that on top of the bounce and slams it over cover. He moves to 46

Sam Curran to Dhruv Jurel, 1 run, punches a slower ball, finds the man at deep cover. Another single. RR won't topple RCB tonight...