Match Center

That concludes the proceedings from this thrilling game. The next game on Wednesday, 22nd September 2021 will be played between Delhi and Hyderabad in Dubai. The action will begin at 6 pm local (2 pm GMT) but you can join us in advance for the build-up. Cheers!

KARTIK TYAGI IS THE MAN OF THE MATCH! Says that he feels really good and he is happy that he got the chance in the first game here. Tells that he has been speaking to his seniors for the past 2 years and he kept believing that he bowls well in the death overs. Tells that games keep changing and he has been noticing this and it feels good that it worked out in their favour. Shares that when he was a net bowler for India's tour of Australia, he has been told that he needs to bowl fuller and he has practised bowling in that channel now.

Sanju Samson, the captain of Rajasthan, says that they kept on believing and somewhere they had that fight left. Shares that he kept the overs of Kartik Tyagi and Mustafizur Rahman for the backend and it worked out. Adds that when you win the game, every decision you make turns out to be the right decision and he always keeps his faith in his bowlers. Tells that Kartik was confident about his wide yorkers and their field setting was good too. Opines that 185 was a good score on this deck and if they could have been better on the field, they could have won the game early.

Evin Lewis is in for a quick chat! Says that he felt good and the wicket was great to bat on. Feels that 200 would have been a good score but is happy that they won the game. Tells us that they were really switched on in the last 10 overs of the game. Shares that they just tried to keep it simple and feels that it was a fighting total.

KL Rahul, the skipper of Punjab, says that it is a tough one to swallow and says that they have experienced games like these before. Adds that they will look to learn and handle pressure better. Says that sometimes under pressure, when the target is achievable, you try to finish things quickly, and maybe the pressure gets to you. On Arshdeep and Shami, KL replies that they bowled really well and pulled things back very nicely. Mentions that it was good that he, Mayank Agarwal, and Aiden Markram got some runs and hopes that their form will help them going forward.

Presentation time...

A narrow escape for Rajasthan. They will be relieved with this victory as they move up to number 5 on the points table. Their batting attempt was strong but flopping in the last 5 overs nearly cost them the game. This is one area they would like to address. For Punjab, they will have to quickly leave this defeat behind and bounce back. There were plenty of positives for them in this match. The bowling of Mohammed Shami and Arshdeep Singh, the batting form of their top order and Punjab only need to find a way to deal with the pressure situation better, especially with the bat.

We have seen many close games in the past, some excellent death bowling as well and this last over from Kartik Tyagi has to be right up there. To keep composure and bowl 5 dot balls in the last over with the defeat looking imminent, he must have nerves of steel. Rajasthan required a miracle to secure two points from this match and Tyagi waved his magic wand when it mattered the most. Hats off!

It's a shocker, to say the least for Punjab. A hard loss to swallow. This game was in their bag and there was no way Rajasthan would have stolen it. But they did the unimaginable. It was a stiff chase for Punjab but their reliable openers raised a century partnership to make things easy. KL Rahul was very lucky during his stay as he was dropped thrice and he went on to provide Punjab with a quick start. He was the aggressor initially and Mayank Agarwal took his time to settle down. Once Agarwal was set, he played some extraordinary shots and put Punjab in a commanding position. The Pink team did get a sniff after dismissing both KL Rahul and Mayank Agarwal in quick succession but the quickfire stand between Nicholas Pooran and Aiden Markram almost closed the doors of a comeback for them. Yeah, we have to say 'almost' now as Punjab left a little gap open and Rajasthan managed to sneak in.

Kartik Tyagi, you superstar! He has shell-shocked Punjab. 4 needed off the last 6 balls and Punjab have lost by 2 runs. Complete shambles! You don't see that happen often but with Punjab, it's becoming a norm. KL Rahul cannot believe it. His team has imploded.

RAJASTHAN HAVE DONE IT! What a superb over from Tyagi! He is the reason that Rajasthan have gone past the finish line. They have snatched victory from the jaws of defeat. Punjab just needed 4 off the final over but they have failed to win this game. A pinpoint yorker, outside off, Allen tries to hit this one out but misses. RAJASTHAN WIN BY 2 RUNS!

Fabian Allen walks in next. Three to win the game, 2 to take it into the Super Over.

OUT! CAUGHT! WOW! What a game this is turning out to be! Another wicket and Rajasthan are in the driving seat now. On a length, wider outside off again, Deepak Hooda reaches out and looks to play this to the off side but the ball takes the outside edge and Sanju Samson is not going to drop this. 3 more needed on the last ball!

DOT! 3 needed in 2 now! Wider, fuller, outside off, Deepak Hooda moves across and looks to play at this but misses. Valuable dot.

Who will come out next? Fabian Allen or Deepak Hooda? It's Deepak Hooda.

OUT! CAUGHT! Is there a twist in the game? Nicholas Pooran loses his wicket at the very end of the innings and he fails to close the game out for his side. A fuller ball, slanting across the southpaw, Pooran just looks to guide this to the off side but only manages a thin outside edge, which is gobbled up by Sanju Samson behind the sticks. 3 more needed in 3 balls!

Just one! Fuller this time, around off, Aiden Markram swings across the line but only manages an inside edge to deep square leg for one. 3 needed in 4 balls!

Good start by Tyagi! Dot ball. A full toss, around off, hit to the fielder at covers. 4 needed in 5 now!