Rajasthan Royals 189 for six (Padikkal 51, Jaiswal 50, Hetmyer 46, Rabada 2-40) beat Punjab Kings 187 for five (Curran 49*, Jitesh 44, Saini 3-40) by 4 wickets

It obtained fairly nervy ultimately, however Rajasthan Royals completed on the proper facet of the end in Dharamsala, beating and eliminating Punjab Kings in a four-wicket win whereas additionally retaining their exterior playoff likelihood alive.

Jaiswal and Padikkal dragged Royals out of a sticky place - with Jos Buttler and Sanju Samson failing - whereas Hetmyer ensured the run fee didn't exit of hand on the again finish.

Royals now set their eyes on Sunday's motion. To qualify, they want Mumbai Indians to lose to Sunrisers Hyderabad and in addition for Royal Challengers Bangalore to lose by no less than six runs to Gujarat Titans within the league stage's final fixture.

Navdeep Saini, enjoying simply his second recreation this season, picked up a few early wickets•AFP/Getty Images

Kings' disappointing begin

Shikhar Dhawan stated on the toss that the Kings did not thoughts batting first in Dharamsala, however their high order was blown away early, leaving them reeling at 50 for 4 in 6.3 overs.

Adam Zampa then closed out the powerplay with the wicket of Dhawan lbw sweeping and Saini, added a second when he rattled Liam Livingstone's stumps with the batter swinging wildly throughout the road.

That the Kings batters saved going for his or her pictures regardless of shedding wickets was comprehensible. For them to have any exterior likelihood of qualifying for the playoffs, they needed to go laborious within the powerplay in pursuit of a giant whole. On this event, although, they did not succeed.

A middle-order resurrection

Then got here the rebuild, kickstarted by Jitesh Sharma and Sam Curran. Together, they hit solely two fours and two sixes by the point they put up a fifty-run stand. At the time, their partnership run fee of seven.69 didn't do justice to the nice batting situations, however they had been compelled to play in that method due to Zampa and Yuzvendra Chahal's tidy spells.

All that appeared to vary, although, as Jitesh tore into the 14th over bowled by Saini. Jitesh went 4, 6, 4 in the beginning however it proved to be anti-climactic with the batter out on 44 subsequent ball. Nonetheless, their partnership of 64 in 7.2 overs gave Kings hope of a good whole.

Chahal, Boult leak runs

With Kings on 141 after 18 overs, Chahal got here to bowl. But the purple-cap holder's over proved to be the innings' most costly as each Shahrukh and Curran walloped him throughout for 28 runs.

Then the Kings duo rode on the again of some streaky pictures so as to add 18 extra in Boult's remaining over. Together, they added 46 within the final 12 balls, Kings scored 70 of their final 5 overs, and Royals had been left chasing a difficult 188.

Devdutt Padikkal introduced up his fifty off simply 29 balls•BCCI

Padikkal clicks at No. 3

After Buttler registered his third duck in a row, Padikkal and Jaiswal collected boundaries via the purpose area with the Kings bowlers attempting to bowl huge. They did not let Arshdeep Singh, Curran or Kagiso Rabada settle and collectively added 73 runs n 8.1 overs.

While Padikkal dominated, Jaiswal appeared to construct his innings whereas the required run fee additionally remained in verify. However, Padikkal and Samson fell in fast succession and the Royals slid from 85 for 1 to 90 for 3.

Hetmyer, Parag, Jurel seal the deal

Hetmyer was fast off the blocks with two sixes, permitting Jaiswal to proceed enjoying his position. Even although Jaiswal fell quickly after attending to fifty, Hetmyer carried on to blitz 46 off 28 and Riyan Parag additionally chipped in with two sixes off Rabada to play a cameo of 20 off 12.

However neither may carry the staff dwelling, falling late within the recreation. The duty of that fell to Jurel, who held his nerve in Boult's firm to seal the match with a straight six off Rahul Chahar within the remaining over.

Sreshth Shah is a sub-editor at ESPNcricinfo. @sreshthx