Kings move second in IPL with victory over Royals
- Published
Punjab Kings beat Rajasthan Royals by 10 runs to move second in the Indian Premier League.
Chasing 220, Rajasthan needed 22 from the final over, and seamer Marco Jansen ensured they would not reach their target, dismissing Dhruv Jurel (53) and Wanindu Hasaranga with successive deliveries.
Yashasvi Jaiswal and Vaibhav Suryavanshi opened the chase with a 76-run partnership, with 14-year-old Suryavanshi smashing 40 from 15 balls and Jaiswal hitting a 25-ball 50.
Both were caught off Harpreet Brar deliveries, who also bowled Riyan Parag on the way to figures of 3-22.
Jurel struck three fours and four sixes in his 31-ball innings, but couldn't take Rajasthan across the finish line in Jaipur.
After Saturday's match between Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Kolkata Knight Riders was abandoned without a ball bowled, the Kings innings got the competition under way after its eight-day break.
The league had been suspended because of tensions between India and Pakistan surrounding the region of Kashmir.
They soon slipped to 34-3 after winning the toss, seeing Mitchell Owen and Prabhsimran Singh dismissed off successive deliveries, but Shreyas Iyer (30 from 25) and Nehal Wadhera (70 from 37) put on a 67-run partnership to steady the ship.
Shashank Singh (59 from 30) and Azmatullah (21 from nine) then put out an unbeaten pairing of 60 as Kings finished their innings on 219-5, a total that proved just too much for Rajasthan.
Kings leapfrog Gujarat Titans to move into second, and are now level on points with leaders Royal Challengers Bengaluru, who have a superior net run-rate.
Rajasthan remain second bottom, having won three of their 13 games.
