On this day, April 5,2023: PBKS beat RR in a high scoring thriller at Guwahati. It was the eighth match of the IPL 2023 between Punjab Kings and Rajasthan Royals. Punjab Kings were batting first and the openers started brilliantly. Prabhsimran Singh and Shikhar Dhawan put up a 90 run opening partnership within 10 overs to put Punjab Kings right on top. Prabhsimran was the aggressor in the partnership and departed for 60 runs of 34 balls. Bhanuka Rajapaksa had to retire after getting injured.
Shikhar Dhawan continued the onslaught as he went past his half century. Jitesh Sharma played a crucial cameo of 27 runs off 16 balls as PBKS kept motoring along in the first innings. Rajasthan Royals struck back in the final five overs, bowling brilliantly. Shikhar Dhawan was unbeaten on 86 off 56 balls as Punjab Kings ended their first innings with 197/4 on the board. It was an excellent effort from the batting side.
Chasing the target, Rajasthan Royals suffered an early blow as Yashasvi Jaiswal was dismissed cheaply. Ravi Ashwin was promoted to open the innings but that did not work as he departed for a duck. Rajasthan lost their third wicket as Buttler fell to Nathan Ellis and were in all sorts of trouble at 57/3. Sanju Samson played an excellent cameo of 42 runs from 25 balls to give the innings a much-needed impetus.
Devdutt Padikkal struggled his way to 21 runs from 26 balls as he could not get going and that put breaks on the Rajasthan innings. Padikkal lost his wicket and Rajasthan Royals were 124/6 at the end of 15 overs as things looked very bleak. Shimron Hetmyer and Dhruv Jurel counter-attacked and built a brilliant partnership as Rajasthan ended the innings with 192/7 and lost the game by just five runs. It was a terrific finish and highly competitive game and, in the end, it was PBKS who won the game.
