15 Apr at 8:00 am

Rajasthan Royals vs Punjab Kings IPL 2024, Match 27th Highlights

Rajasthan Royals win 5 Matchs from 6 | © iplt20.com

The 27th match of IPL 2024 was a heart-stopping rollercoaster ride for fans of the Rajasthan Royals (RR) and the Punjab Kings (PBKS). Played at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium, the match went down to the last ball, with RR emerging victorious by a narrow margin.

Punjab Kings Set a Moderate Target

The Punjab Kings batted first and got off to a decent start. However, their innings lacked momentum as wickets fell consistently throughout. Openers could have converted promising starts, and the middle-order batters struggled against the Rajasthan Royals’ short-pitched bowling deliveries. The strategy backfired for some PBKS batsmen, who attempted risky cross-bat shots and gave away their wickets.

Despite the early troubles, a late cameo by Ashutosh Sharma, who came in as an Impact Sub, provided a much-needed boost to the PBKS score. Sharma smashed a quickfire 31 runs off just 16 balls, including some lusty blows towards the end of the innings. Thanks to his late flourish, Punjab Kings put up 147 runs on the board, a score that felt slightly below par considering the batting-friendly conditions.

Rajasthan Royals’ Wobbly Chase

Chasing a target of 148 might seem like a straightforward task on paper, but the Rajasthan Royals batters had other plans. They started well, with their openers stitching together a promising 56-run partnership. However, when it seemed like RR was cruising towards victory, the tide began to turn. The Punjab Kings bowlers clawed back into the match, taking wickets at regular intervals. Like the PBKS innings, the RR batting order crumbled under pressure, with batters failing to convert good starts into substantial scores.

Hetmyer Plays the Hero’s Role

With Rajasthan Royals needing 35 runs from the last two overs, the match hung precariously in the balance. Enter Shimron Hetmyer, the left-handed batsman known for his aggressive strokeplay. Hetmyer, displaying nerves of steel and exceptional power hitting, took the bowling attack head-on. He smashed boundaries with ease and kept the required run rate under control.

The drama reached its peak in the final over. With ten runs required for victory, Hetmyer faced the challenge of Punjab Kings’ bowler Arshdeep Singh. The first two balls were yorkers, unplayable deliveries that Hetmyer could do nothing with. The equation came down to ten tense runs from the last four balls. Hetmyer, unfazed by the pressure, managed to muscle a powerful shot down the ground off the third ball, sending the ball racing to the boundary cushion for a crucial six.

The drama wasn’t over yet. Hetmyer managed a couple of runs off the next ball, leaving two runs required from the last ball. Arshdeep Singh, however, faltered under pressure, delivering a full toss on the leg side. Hetmyer flicked the ball effortlessly towards the long-on boundary, securing a dramatic victory for the Rajasthan Royals with just one ball to spare.

The 27th match of IPL 2024 was a true testament to the unpredictable nature of T20 cricket. Both teams had moments throughout the game, with the momentum shifting back and forth. While the Punjab Kings bowlers fought hard to defend a modest total, Hetmyer’s last-over heroics proved to be the difference-maker for the Rajasthan Royals. This thrilling encounter showcased the power of big hitting in the slog overs and the importance of maintaining composure under immense pressure.