Punjab Batsman Nehal Wadhera during the IPL T20 Match against Rajasthan Royals at the Sawai Man Singh Cricket Stadium in Jaipur on May 18, 2025
| Photo Credit: R.V. Moorthy
On a searing May afternoon in Jaipur, Rajasthan Royals’ batting melted away when confronted by a stern 220-run target to hand Punjab Kings a 10-run victory at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium on Sunday (May 18, 2025).
Dhruv Jurel 53 (31b, 3×4, 4×6) stood till the final over but could not take RR over the line with 22 needed off the 20th. Arshdeep Singh, who had conceded 52 in his first three overs, made amends by allowing only eight in the 19th over.
Minor niggle
Marco Jansen picked up two wickets in the final over to settle the contest. PBKS would take heart in having managed the defence in the absence of captain Shreyas Iyer, who was subbed off due to a minor niggle. RR had the contest firmly in its grip when it had wiped off 89 runs inside the PowerPlay. Yashasvi Jaiswal did not hang around for sighters, smashing the first delivery over midwicket. He collected 22 runs off Arshdeep’s opening over.
Vaibhav Suryavanshi stayed true to his flamboyance and persisted with clearing his front leg to heave across the line. PBKS bowlers picking the slot only made it easier for the teenage prodigy.
Left-arm orthodox Harpreet Brar (three for 22) defied the modern convention and emerged as an unlikely hero as he nabbed the left-handed openers. Harpreet stepped up once again when he castled Riyan Parag to thwart a comeback stand brewing between Parag and Jurel.
That PBKS had enough to play with was down to Nehal Wadhera 70 (37b, 5×4, 5×6) and Shashank Singh who turned the screws around RR bowlers despite a jittery start.
Caution was not on the cards for Wadhera, who walked in at 34 for two, as he pocketed his first boundary off Tushar Deshpande by slashing outside off.
His best was reserved for the tweakers, and inserting leg-spinner Wanindu Hasaranga did not aid RR’s cause. Wadhera flaunted his on-side range against the Sri Lankan, piercing the gap between deep midwicket and deep fine-leg twice in one over.
He hooked Akash Madhwal behind square to bring up his half-century in 25 deliveries.
Shashank took over once Wadhera fell and his unbeaten 30-ball 59 was instrumental in PBKS securing 72 runs off the final five overs. This proved invaluable in the end.
Published – May 18, 2025 05:31 pm IST
