RAJASTHAN VS. PUNJAB: INDIAN T20 LEAGUE 2021, MATCH 4 | GAME CHANGERS OF THE MATCH
In the fourth match of the 2021 Indian T20 League, Punjab registered a nail-biting victory over Rajasthan by 4 runs in Mumbai on Monday night. It was their first victory in the last three matches against Rajasthan.
Put in to bat first, Punjab posted a big total of 221 runs in the first innings. KL Rahul top-scored with 91 runs off 50 balls. Chris Gayle and Deepak Hooda also contributed with scores of 40 and 64 runs respectively. Chetan Sakariya, playing his debut match, was the star for Rajasthan with the ball, picking up 3 wickets for 31 runs, while Chris Morris, the most prized player, took 2 for 41 in his four overs.
Chasing the massive total, Rajasthan lost their openers, Stokes and Vohra, with just 25 runs on the board. However, captain Sanju Samson batted brilliantly to bring back his team into the game. He scored 119 runs off 63 balls and was helped by useful 20s from Buttler, Riyan Parag and Shivam Dube. However, this was not enough for a win and Rajasthan finished with 217 runs in their 20 overs. For Punjab, Shami took 2 for 33 and Arshdeep Singh took 3 for 35, who bowled the nerve-wracking final over for the win.
KL Rahul completed 2000 runs for Punjab and can become the all-time top-scorer for Punjab this season. Punjab took the crucial two points from the game and will look forward to facing Chennai in their next game.
Here are the top 3 performers of the Rajasthan vs. Punjab game.
- Sanju Samson (119 runs off 63 balls)
Sanju Samson was adjudged the Player of the Match for his scintillating hundred that almost won the match for Rajasthan. After the loss of Stokes very early, he took charge of the run chase. He scored boundaries consistently and put on crucial partnerships till the end of the innings. It was his third Indian T20 League hundred, which included 12 fours and 7 sixes. He was dismissed in the final over trying to hit a six to win the game for his team. Among Indian players, only Kohli has more centuries (5) in the tournament history.
- KL Rahul (91 runs off 50 balls)
Punjab put up a massive total of 221, thanks to a stunning knock from their skipper KL Rahul. Opener Mayank Agarwal departed in the third over trying to increase the scoring rate. It was the 67-run partnership between Rahul and Gayle for the second wicket that steadied the innings. After Gayle got dismissed, Rahul took the attack to the Rajasthan bowlers, hitting 2 or more boundaries every over. He was out on the second ball of the final over after scoring 91 off just 50 balls, which included 7 fours and 5 sixes.
- Deepak Hooda (64 runs off 28 balls)
Deepak Hooda was the partner in crime for Punjab alongside KL Rahul. He came to the crease after the dismissal of Gayle in the 10th over. The right-handed batsman played an entertaining knock of 64 off just 28 balls, including 4 boundaries and 6 sixes. He added 105 runs for the third wicket with Rahul and increased the run rate from 9.3 to 11.2. He was dismissed by Chris Morris in the 18th over.
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