Guwahati: After Shikhar Dhawan’s 85-run knock, Nathan Ellis claimed a four-fer to take Punjab Kings to a thrilling five-run win over Rajasthan Royals in Match 8 of the 2023 Indian Premier League (IPL) here at Barsapara Cricket Stadium on Wednesday.
Shikhar Dhawan’s unbeaten 85 along with Prabhsimran Singh’s maiden fifty helped Punjab Kings (PBKS) set a 198-run target. In reply, after a slow start, the Royals threatened to steal the game but fell short by five runs in the chase.
RR started the chase with a strange batting line-up as Ravichandran Ashwin came in to open with Yashasvi Jaiswal as Buttler went off the field immediately after taking the catch in the last over.
Jaiswal started with an impressive six over square leg. In the next over, Arshdeep Singh struck to dismiss the in-form Jaiswal for 11 and Buttler came in to bat.
Sam Curran almost got Buttler in the third over, who flicked a pull toward Harpreet Brar charging in towards deep square leg but as he fell, the ball popped out of his grasp. Then, Buttler capitalised on the drop catch with an amazing boundary over mid-wicket.
In the next over, Arshdeep removed Ashwin to reduce the Royals to 26/2 within four overs. After a dot ball, Samson went for a six and completed 1000 runs for RR as a captain.
Samson and Buttler took RR bowlers to cleaners with their well-timed shots before Nathan Ellis caught and bowled the big fish Buttler for 19. The royals were reeling 57/3 at the end of the Power-play.
Buttler went on to drive straight but an inside edge come off the pads and the ball popped up off the pad. Ellis was quick on the follow-through as he ran forward, dived, and completed the catch.
Ellis struck again in the 11th over to pile further misery on Royals as he trapped skipper Sanju Samson for 42, reducing RR to 91-4 and home favourite Riyan Parag came into bat.
