END OF OVER:20 | 6 Runs 1 Wkt | PBKS: 147/8 | RR: 7.35
- Harpreet Brar3 (3b)
- Trent Boult4-0-22-1
- Avesh Khan4-0-34-2
9:13pm 72 runs came off the last six overs, and that has given this score some sort of respectability. Livingstone and Jitesh did their bits, but it was all down to Ashutosh, omitted initially but then making his impact as, well, the Impact Player. Prior to that, Bairstow, Curran, Prabhsimran and Shashank all struggled, either picking the wrong options or not showing enough intent to throw the RR bowlers off their plans.
Speaking of RR, the spinners were the pick of the bunch. Maharaj, in particular, was impressive, bagging a two-wicket haul and only conceding 23 across four overs. Chahal accounted for Prabhsimran, moving to within two of the 200-wicket mark in the IPL. Boult, as always, was exceptional at the top and held his own in the final over, with Avesh and Sen also chipping in.
This pitch, compared to the PBKS-SRH game the other day, does seem a little trickier, although 147 does not seem a lot at this stage. PBKS will have to fight for every run in the field to make this total feel bigger, and to prevent the Royals from making it five wins out of six. Join us in a bit for the run-chase!
Keshav Maharaj: (On Chahal) He has been phenomenal. He is someone I can feed information off, and a privilege to bowl alongside him. (On the pitch) It was starting to get better at the end. It was a bit stoppy at the start. Hopefully we have restricted them to enough and we can chase it down. Not a lot of dew. When the ball got older, it looked a bit truer, and it was more reactive when the ball was newer. Huge privilege to be a part of this team. Learning and trying to evolve my game.
AR Sharma c Maharaj b Boult 31 (20m 16b 1x4 3x6) SR: 193.75
Can PBKS get to 150? One ball left. Ashutosh on strike
150 very much within reach now. Can the Punjab Kings get there? 66 runs have come off the last 30 balls. Boult will bowl the final over. Long off, deep cover point, long on, deep mid wicket and deep square leg on the fence. Around the wicket
END OF OVER:19 | 18 Runs | PBKS: 141/7 | RR: 7.42
- Ashutosh Sharma26 (11b)
- Harpreet Brar2 (2b)
- Avesh Khan4-0-34-2
- Yuzvendra Chahal4-0-31-1
Two overs left. PBKS will be chuffed if they can get to 145 from here. Avesh entrusted with the penultimate over
END OF OVER:18 | 12 Runs 1 Wkt | PBKS: 123/7 | RR: 6.83
- Harpreet Brar1 (1b)
- Ashutosh Sharma9 (6b)
- Yuzvendra Chahal4-0-31-1
- Avesh Khan3-0-16-2
Brar is the new batter in
LS Livingstone run out 21 (25m 14b 2x4 1x6) SR: 150.00
Free hit coming up
Chahal to bowl the 18th
END OF OVER:17 | 8 Runs 1 Wkt | PBKS: 111/6 | RR: 6.52
- Liam Livingstone20 (12b)
- Ashutosh Sharma1 (2b)
- Avesh Khan3-0-16-2
- Kuldeep Sen4-0-35-1
Ashutosh Sharma is in. He is Punjab Kings' Impact Player tonight, replacing Prabhsimran Singh
JM Sharma c Parag b Avesh Khan 29 (35m 24b 1x4 2x6) SR: 120.83
And, a false start because Jitesh is not happy with the movement behind the bowler's arm
Avesh to bowl the 17th. PBKS have a bit of momentum now