IPL 2019, KXIP vs RR: Rahul's fifty, Ashwin's cameo cruise Punjab to 182/6

A day after snapping a spot in the World Cup squad, Rahul posted a 47-ball 52 studded with three fours and two sixes

KL Rahul’s fourth fifty followed by a terrific cameo by skipper Ravichandran Ashwin guided Kings XI Punjab to a challenging 182 for six against Rajasthan Royals (RR) in a second leg IPL clash at Mohali on Tuesday. A day after snapping a spot in the World Cup squad, Rahul posted a 47-ball 52 studded with three fours and two sixes. He was ably supported by David Miller (40 off 27) as the duo shared an 85-run stand to lay the foundation. Punjab skipper Ashwin then blasted a four-ball 17 in the last over as KXIP posted a good total on board.

KL Rahul's well-paced 52(47) https://t.co/5508dF1Z0O

— Aakash Biswas (@aami_aakash) April 16, 2019

Ashwin says, I can scoop too https://t.co/R4xWXibsTs

— Aakash Biswas (@aami_aakash) April 16, 2019

Invited to bat, opener Gayle (30) smashed Jaydev Unadkat for a couple of sixes in the second over, before blasting Dhawal Kulkarni for a four and a six in the fifth over. Archer then had him caught behind by Sanju Samson in the sixth over as KXIP were 39 for one in the first powerplay overs. Playing his first IPL game this season, New Zealand's Ish Sodhi was then introduced into the attack and Mayank Agarwal (26 off 12) clobbered him for a six in the fourth ball. Agarwal then picked up a four and a six off Shreyas Gopal before Sodhi returned to remove him. Trying to play a slog sweep, Agarwal was caught by Archer at long-on. The duo took singles and twos before Rahul finally scored his first boundary when he lifted a Unadkat delivery across the mid-off region. In the 14th over, Rahul and Miller exploded after bringing up the hundred for KXIP. The duo amassed 19 runs off Sodhi's over, his last, with Rahul smoking a massive six over deep square leg and Miller thumping one over long-off. Rahul perished early in the 18th over off Unadkat and Archer then bowled a superb over, removing Nicholas Pooran (5) and Mandeep Singh (0). Miller too was sent packing early in the 20th over by Kulkarni. Pacer Jofra Archer (3/15) returned with an exceptional three-wicket haul to emerge as the best bowler for the Royals.

Jofra Archer's brilliant 3-wicket haul https://t.co/XUAtvYIY0F

— Aakash Biswas (@aami_aakash) April 16, 2019