Punjab Kings vs Rajasthan Royals, 27th Match - Live Cricket Score, Commentary

RR get back to winning ways and are sitting pretty at the top of the table with five wins in six matches. Mind you, they were without Jos Buttler and Ashwin as well today. Not a clinical win but two big positives for them - Jaiswal's 39 at the top and the way Hetmyer finished it off. On the other hand, it was another close agonising final-over loss for Punjab. While Shashank and Ashutosh got them very close in the previous match, their bowlers bowled with a lot of heart to make it an interesting encounter. Well, it's time to bring the curtains down on this contest. Until tomorrow's double-header, it's goodbye from all of us down here.

Shimron Hetmyer | Player of the Match: (Mindset to finish games) It's just practice, I try as much as possible to bat properly in the nets first and then when everyone's finished, I go back and try my best to hit sixes. It's a blessing and a curse (on being the finisher). Sometimes it happens, sometimes it doesn't. I am happy that I could help the team pull off a victory today. They (pressure) creep in the first couple of balls that I face, afterwards I just try to keep it as clear as possible. Even in the last over after I missed the first two balls, he (Boult) came down to me and he was like "Don't worry, we've got this," and I was able to feed off his energy and it really worked. I would have taken it (single with 2 runs needed off 2 balls). I spoke to Boulty and he said, "I got this." After he said that, I was like even if I don't get the other one, I'll try my best to get a single. Even if we don't win it, at least tie it. I was really looking to get a single or double and then the full toss came and I tried to hit it over the guys that were inside. Being away from family, the only way you could keep yourself up is by just enjoying every moment that you're here.

Sanju Samson | RR captain: (High-catches) We had few funny instances from last year and this year. But I am really happy that everyone is eager to go and catch. I would be very sad if people are just staying away and not catching it. It gets a bit tough actually - the stadium is full of noise and when people call, we are looking at the ball, we can't look who is coming. I need to tell my fast bowlers that it's a bit easier to catch with the gloves instead of hands. We all were (tensed during the run-chase). Games against Punjab in the last 3-4 years, each and every game is very close, very funny feeling. They were bowling really well, it was a funny game. (On Hetmyer) He has been doing it for years and years. Lots of experience, some composure and some confidence about his skills. He was won games many times. Rovman and Hetty - having them was good. Tanush is an interesting youngster. He came in as an allrounder, he had a fabulous Ranji Trophy season with Mumbai and he's been performing well. He's been impressing all the coaching staff and everyone in the nets. We had a proper, settled batting order after the openers, we didn't want to unsettle it and then bring someone up for just one game. Jos is almost ready for the next game, so we just wanted to try him up the order. Very happy to see him (Jaiswal) spend some time in the middle, get those 30s and 40s. That's what this tournament has taught me from last 10 years - never take it for granted. Last game, we did some really great things and we ended up on the losing side. Today, we made a bit more mistakes and we ended up winning the game. It's a very funny game, so we'd like to keep our heads down and just do the process.

RR’s run-chase
Overs 1-8: 56/0 (RR: 7)
Overs 9-14: 34/3 (RR: 5.67)
Overs 15-19.5: 62/4 (RR: 10.63)

PBKS bowling
Rabada and Curran: 4/43 from 8 overs (ER: 5.375)
Others: 3/109 from 11.5 overs (ER: 9.21)

RR vs PBKS since 2020
Matches: 8
Won by RR: 6
Won by PBKS: 2

Seven of the above matches have been last over finishes.

Rovman Powell: Definitely, it’s important for us to get two points, the guys are keeping up, credit to the guys. (On his stand with Hetmyer) The good thing is we both are calm, we talked that we should run fast, we are West Indians, we are boundary-hitters. It’s a challenge but we are professional cricketers. (On being asked about Buttler’s niggle) I think they are doing some very good work with him, I think he would be out for another day or two but it’s good that we have a game in 3-4 days, so he will likely be back by then. I am a good player, if I not getting games then it means the team is doing well. Whenever I get my opportunity, I will give my best.

Sam Curran | PBKS Captain - The wicket was slightly slow, but we didn't start well with the bat and didn't finish well in the end. It was a good effort from the lower order, getting (close) to 150 was excellent, the bowling was good, we kept them down, unfortunately another close loss. We stuck to our plans, bowled and fielded well, but I'm confident we'll bounce back in the next game. Three games is a hard way to fully work out the conditions (at the new venue), but we've adapted well, we won the first match and lost two matches by close margins (by 2 runs and 3 wickets), hard to take, but the boys will be lifted by how well we've played in the last couple of games.

23:13 Local Time, 17:43 GMT, 23:13 IST: Another close encounter between these two teams! After the first innings, Rajasthan Royals were firm favourites but Punjab fought hard. Inserted to bat, Punjab hardly found any momentum with the bat. Ashutosh Sharma came in as the Impact Player at number eight and top-scored with a 16-ball 31 to take his team's total close to 150 on a sluggish track. In reply, Rajasthan didn't lose a single wicket in the powerplay but they managed to score just 38 runs in that phase. Kotian, batting at the top, struggled and fell in the ninth over. The asking rate was under check but Rabada picked two crucial wickets (Jaiswal and Samson) in two overs. The Punjab bowlers fought valiantly to put the RR batters under pressure. When Jurel holed out to deep midwicket, RR needed 33 runs in 16 balls and that's when the two Caribbean big-hitters joined hands. They scored 18 runs in 4 balls but Curran nipped out Powell with a short ball. With 10 needed off the final over, Arshdeep nailed a couple of yorkers, but Hetmyer held his nerve to take his team over the line with a couple of sixes.

Arshdeep Singh to Hetmyer, SIX, hit-me ball and Hetmyer accepts it gleefully! 137.8kph, high full toss down leg and Hetmyer swings it over fine leg. Hits the boundary cushion on the full and RR win by 3 wickets!

2 runs | 2 balls.

Arshdeep Singh to Hetmyer, 2 runs, 140.7kph, shortened length, pulled to the left of long-on. Curran gets to the ball quickly but he fails to collect it cleanly. Easy two

4 runs | 3 balls.

Arshdeep Singh to Hetmyer, SIX, 138kph, wow! That's a superb hit from Hetmyer. He shimmies down the track and it's not a yorker from Arshdeep. Turns it into a half-volley and smashes it over straight long-on for a flat six

10 runs | 4 balls.

Prinshu Agarwal: Punjab v Royals and thrillers is my favourite IPL love story.

Arshdeep Singh to Hetmyer, no run, 135.9kph, another yorker, Hetmyer gets low to go over midwicket/mid-on, gets an inside edge onto his body and the ball rolls towards the off-side. Hetmyer doesn't take the single., Big roar from the crowd

10 runs | 5 balls.

Arshdeep Singh to Hetmyer, no run, DOT! 136.6kph, yorker outside off, Hetmyer walks across and swings hard but doesn't lay bat on ball

Arshdeep Singh [3.0-0-31-1] is back into the attack

Trent Boult, right handed bat, comes to the crease

Equation: 10 runs | 6 balls. Arshdeep to bowl it. He's up against Hetmyer. Not much batting to follow...

Sam Curran to Maharaj, out Caught by Livingstone!! Holes out! 125.4kph, full and in the slot, Maharaj clears his front leg to go over long-on. The bat turns and hence the timing goes awry. Hits it straight to Livingstone who doesn't err on this occasion. Excellent comeback from Curran after conceding a couple of boundaries in this over. Maharaj c Livingstone b Sam Curran 1(2)