RR beats KXIP through a record run chase; Sanju became Man of the Match

Rajasthan Royals chased 224 – the highest run chase in IPL history to Kings XI Punjab beat Punjab by four wickets. The tenth match of Dream 11 IPL, 2020 was an absolute stunner.

The Kings XI Punjab hosted a total of 223 for 2 in their 20 overs. With a fabulous maiden IPL century Mayank Agarwal (106) took his team to a commanding position. His innings consists of 10 fours and 7 sixes. Captain KL Rahul also took 69 from 54 balls and gave good support to Mayank.

The RR captain Steven Smith elected to bowel first after winning the toss. It was their second match at Sharjah, after winning their first match with Chennai Super Kings, the team was in full confidence.

The KXIP batting order gave hints that it was a good toss to loss, because they were in good touch and kept on scoring boundaries at regular intervals. The RR bowlers were able to lower the phase of the opposition’s scoring, but thanks to the short boundaries, Punjab were able to finish high.

It was an early blow for the royals as their wicket keeper batsmen Jose Bottler went cheaply in a 200 plus run chase. Captain Steve Smith (50) and Sanju Samson joined the crease when RR was 19 for 1 and the partnership went on till the score was 100 for 2.

Sanju Samson again proved that he is the best Indian Wicket Keeper Batsman, who can fill the shoes of MS Dhoni by scoring 85 runs of just 42 balls and also became the man of the match.

“I have been hitting it well for the past one year. So I was just sticking to my routine and feeling confident. I am happy to win a few games,” he said

During a period of time the Punjab thought that they had the match in their hand, it was after the dismissal of Smith, Rahul Tewatia came in and struggled to score runs and rotate the strike.

His initial strike rates were below 50. After increasing the heartbeat of the fans and the RR camp the allrounder played a gem of an innings by hitting 5 sixes in the 17 over of Sheldon Cottrel. He scored 53 of 31.

“That was the worst first 20 balls that I have ever played. I was hitting the ball very good in the nets, so I had belief in myself and kept going. I was not hitting the ball well initially, I saw in the dug-out, everybody was curious because they know that I can hit the ball long. I thought I had to believe in myself. It was a matter of one six, after that, I got going. Five in an over went amazing. Coach sent me to hit sixes off the leg-spinner, but unfortunately I didn’t hit him. Ultimately, I hit off the other bowlers,” he said after the match.

The 10 match of Dream 11 IPL, 2020 was totally a thriller, with many more matches to come in the Sharjah cricket stadium, one couldn’t say that this will be the highest score.