Sam Curran, the captain, was the most important person, scoring a steady fifty runs and collecting two wickets as Punjab Kings defeated Rajasthan Royals by five wickets.
In their IPL match in Guwahati on Wednesday, Punjab Kings defeated Rajasthan Royals by five wickets, with captain Sam Curran capturing two wickets and batting a well-paced fifty. On a slow track here, the target was a small 145, but Kings made difficult work of it. However, Curran (63 not out, 41b, 5x4, 3x6) had the calm and abilities to lead them to their sixth victory of the year. PBKS scored 18.5 overs with 145/5. Jitesh Sharma (22, 20b) provided excellent support for the Englishman as they put on 63 runs in a smooth fifth wicket stand.
The Royals suffered their fourth straight loss, although they still finished second in the standings with 16 points and automatic postseason qualifying.
The Kings' chase got off to a rough start when they lost Prabhsimran Singh to Trent Boult in the opening over.
Larger shocks, though, were to come as a superb Avesh Khan (2/28) claimed two wickets in the fifth over.
The right-arm pacer dismissed in-form Shashank Singh for a two-ball zero after taking the crucial wicket of Rilee Rossouw, who played some impressive strokes in his 13-ball 22.
When Shashank tried to flick one of Avesh's fuller, straighter deliveries, he was unsuccessful and the 141 kmph delivery thudded on his bat. As he left, Shashank did not even try to use DRS.
The partnership between Curran and Jitesh, who shut out R Ashwin for two sixes, helped Punjab gain some advantage.
The seasoned offie had a dose of punishment from Curran as well, as he lofted him for an incredible six over further cover.
However, Yuzvendra Chahal (2/31) broke the rising stand, leaving PBKS at 111 for five in the 16th over.
But without any more drama, Curran and Ashutosh Sharma (17 not out, 11 balls) scored the last runs.
Earlier, on a somewhat slow track, RR faltered to a below-average 144 for nine despite a fine-tuned 48 from local hero Riyan Parag. This was due to an assortment of accurate bowlers.
During their 50-run partnership for the fourth wicket, R Ashwin (28, 19b, 3x4, 1x6) and Parag (48, 34, 6x4) attempted to quicken their pace, but it was only able to give RR a brief advantage.
As Jaiswal was out of the game early on in the Rajasthan innings due to a Curran (2/24) delivery that he sliced back on to his stumps, in actuality, slowness had already set in.
Tom-Kohler Cadmore (18, 23b) and Sanju Samson (18), who scored more than 500 runs in a season for the first time in his IPL career, combined for 36 runs for the second wicket in six overs.
But it was difficult for the RR hitters to score since Curran and Arshdeep found a little swing and kept a decent line.
Eventually, in the seventh over, Samson, who attempted a hopping cut off pacer Nathan Ellis, gave Rahul Chahar an easy catch at point.
In the next game over, Cadmore also went back to the dugout as his incredible leg-spinner Chahar (2/26) was unable to get past Jitesh in the deep.
The Royals' finest stretch of innings came about as a result of those two dismissals, as Ashwin and Parag put the pedal to the metal.
In the 12th over, Ashwin showed his batting skills by hitting Chahar for 17 runs, which included a run of 6, 4, 4, with the first four being a fantastic reverse scoop over backward point.
However, he was unable to continue his innings and lofted Arshdeep to Shashank.
Because wickets were falling at the other end often, Parag, a normally free-flowing hitter, was forced to control his flair in front of a greatly excited home crowd.
Curran also passed the 500-run mark for the season with a late cut off him that raced to third man, but Harshal Patel trapped him in front of the wicket. It was an example of his skill and timing.
Aside from conquering those minor peaks, the RR hitters were unable to consistently shift into the highest gear.
