IPL 2021: Punjab snatch defeat from jaws of victory

PUNJAB Kings (PBKS) on Tuesday (21) snatched defeat from the jaws of victory in a crucial game against Rajasthan Royals (RR) at Dubai International Cricket Stadium in the third game of the second phase of the 2021 edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL).

Placed comfortably at 183 for 2 in the final over with just three runs needed from four balls, KL Rahul’s side choked yet again as young medium pacer Kartik Tyagi, who is playing in just his second IPL season, did not concede a single run in those deliveries. Punjab lost the game by just two runs to lose two crucial points in what promises to be a close race for the playoffs. Tyagi, who picked two wickets for 29 runs in four overs in the game and was adjudged the man of the match, gave just one run in the high-pressure final over of the match.

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Earlier in the day, Punjab captain KL Rahul won the toss and asked Sanju Samson’s RR to bat first. Openers Evin Lewis (36 off 21 balls) and Yashasvi Jaiswal (49 off 36) gave Rajasthan a good start and Liam Livingstone’s 25 off 17 and Mahipal Lomror’s 17-ball 43 helped them post a competitive total of 185 in their allotted 20 overs. Samson fell for only four runs. For Punjab, pacers Arshdeep Singh took his career-best five for 32 while Mohammed Shami took three for 21.

Punjab came out with all guns blazing as openers Rahul (49 off 33) and Mayank Agarwal (67 off 43) powered them to 120 inside 12 overs. After their quick dismissals, Aiden Markram (22 not out off 20) and Nicholas Pooran (32 off 22) added 57 runs in less than seven overs to almost take their side home but the fall of Pooran in the third ball and Deepak Hooda (zero off two) in the fifth ball of the final over denied the PBKS the finishing touch.

PBKS coach Anil Kumble was trolled by the Punjab fans for not playing spinner Ravi Bishnoi and veteran hitter Chris Gayle in the game.

Former champions RR moved to the fifth position with this win (eight points from eight games) while Punjab were still at the seventh spot with six points in nine games.

Chennai Super Kings and Delhi Capitals are the leading teams with 12 points from eight games but Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s side is ahead because of a better net run rate.

Delhi take on Sunrisers Hyderabad, lagging at the bottom of the table with just one win so far, in Dubai on Wednesday (22).