Rajasthan royals: Cricket News & Match Updates

Jaipur, May 8 - Kings XI Punjab's Andrew Tye (4/34) came with a clinical bowling show to restrict Rajasthan Royals to 158/8 in an Indian Premier League (IPL) tie at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium here on Tuesday.

Bottom-placed Rajasthan would not have even crossed the 100-run mark but thanks to a blistering 58-ball 82 by opener Jos Buttler that propelled the hosts to a moderate total.

Opting to bat, Rajasthan were off to a quick start, accumulating 35 runs in the first three overs.

Tye drew the first blood for Punjab as his knuckle ball played the trick to dismiss opener Ajinkya Rahane (9) in the fourth over.

Buttler however, continued to fully utilise the powerplay to take his side past the 50-run mark in five overs.

Marcus Stoinis gave the second blow to the hosts when Krishnappa Gowtham (8) misread a slower delivery and gave an easy catch to Manoj Tiwary at long on in the seventh over.

With two wickets down, in-form Sanju Samson (22) joined Butler to forge a 53-run partnership for the third wicket.

Samson departed in the 15th over off a Mujeeb ur Rahman delivery with the Rajasthan scorecard reading 117/3.

Buttler was then accompanied by Ben Stokes (14) and the duo shared a 15-run partnership for the fourth wicket.

Mujeeb struck again in the 17th over to pack back a good looking Buttler, whose knock was laced with nine boundaries and a six.

After his fall, no other Rajasthan batsman could offer any sort of resistance as the hosts lost their next four wickets of Stokes, Stuart Binny (11), Jofra Archer (0) and Jaydev Unadkat (0) with the addition of just 26 runs.

Of the last four wickets, Tye was involved in dismissing three of the Rajasthan batters.

Other than Tye, Afghanistan spinner Mujeeb bagged a couple of wickets conceding 21 runs in four overs while Stoinis chipped in with one wicket.

Brief Scores: Rajasthan Royals 158/8 (Jos Buttler 82, Sanju Samson 22; Andrew Tye 4/34) vs Kings XI Punjab.

IANS   Read More...