IPL 2018: Rahul's 84 powers KXIP to 6-wicket win against Rajasthan Royals

In the 38th match of the VIVO Indian Premier League (IPL2018), Kings XI Punjab defeated Rajasthan Royals and moved up to the 3rd position of the Vivo IPL points table. KL Rahul played a brilliant knock, scoring 84 runs and took his team towards victory. Earlier, Kings XI Punjab won the toss and decided to bowl first against Rajasthan Royals. Ashwin bowled the first over and took the wicket of D Arcy Short. Rahane was caught soon by Gayle. Wickets fell for Rajasthan and Kings XI Punjab managed to put a leash on run flow. It looked like another low scorer till the 15th over. Kings XI got the upper edge from the start and Rajasthan needed a revival as they were on the verge of elimination from this year's IPL, but it never came for the team and the batting collapsed. The bowlers kept it strict and RR made 152 in their 20 overs.

Kings XI Punjab needed 153 runs to win and Gayle and Rahul swung into action, hitting balls for runs. Jofra Archer got Gayle’s wicket, Stokes removed Mayank Agarwal. The batsmen were set on the wicket and just then Anureet Singh bowled Nair in the 11th over. Lokesh Rahul looked strong and went ahead, Axar Patel joined him, Rahul got a lifeline on the 12th over as the keeper dropped him, the batsmen went on with singles and doubles. Axar couldn't stay for long and this jolt added some energy into Rajasthan camp. Rajasthan needed to stop Rahul and that would have turned around the game for them. Punjab was under pressure after losing wickets, the required run rate also shot up to 9 per over. Kings XI Punjab needed 12 runs in the last two overs and Rahul hurried to win it for the team by hitting a six in the 19th over and ending in style with a boundary.

IPL 2018 Match 38 KXIP vs RR SCOREBOARD

Kings XI Punjab: KL Rahul (wk), Chris Gayle, Mayank Agarwal, Karun Nair, Marcus Stoinis, Manoj Tiwary, R Ashwin (capt), Axar Patel, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Ankit Rajpoot, Andrew Tye Over 1: Krishnappa Gowtham to Lokesh Rahul, single taken. Gowtham didn't allow Gayle to hit a shot off the remaining 5 balls as he conceded only 1 run. KXIP: 1/0

Over 2: Jofra Archer to Rahul, dot ball. Rahul took a single off the next ball. Archer beats Gayle off a peach delivery. Another dot ball. Gayle backs away and hit four over the off side fielders. Dot ball to end the over. KXIP: 5/0, Chris Gayle 4 (9b) and Lokesh Rahul: 2 (3b)

Over 3: Gowtham to Rahul, backed away and hit four in the cover-point region. DOT ball. WIDE. Rahul hit two consecutive fours to up the ante. Gowtham bowled two dot balls to end the over. KXIP: 19/0 Chris Gayle 4 (9b) and Lokesh Rahul: 14 (9b)

Over 4: Archer to Gayle, muscled for four. Gayle OUT while trying to bring second four of the over. Mayan Agrawal came to the crease and took a single off the first ball. Wayward delivery by Archer, WIDE. Quick double taken by Rahul. DOT ball. KXIP: 27/1, Chris Gayle c Samson b Archer 8 (11b 2x4 0x6)

Over 5: Ben Stokes to Mayank, single taken. DOT ball. Rahul took a single off the 3rd ball. Mayank pulled the 4th ball of the over but finds a fielder, another failure by Agrawal. DOT ball. Karun Nair edged the 5th ball and Gopal miss field as the ball went for four.

Over 6: Jaydev Unadkat to Rahul, single taken. Unadkat bowled superbly as he didn't allow Nair to score a run of the 5 balls he played: KXIP: 34/2

Over 7: Ben Stokes to Rahul, one run taken. Nair nailed the half-volley for four down the ground for four. DOT ball. Nair took a single in the third man region. Rahul also took a single in the third-man region. Nair took single down the ground to end the over. KXIP: 42/2, Lokesh Rahul: 20 (17b) and Karun Nair: 10 (11b)

Over 8: Shreyas Gopal to Nair, single taken. Rahul pulled the second ball for four in the square leg-region. Rahul took single off the next ball. DOT ball. Another single taken by Nair. Rahul took single to end the over. KXIP: 50/2, Lokesh Rahul: 26 (20b) and Karun Nair: 12 (14b) Over 9: Anureet Singh to Rahul, no run. SIngle taken. Nair took single of the 3rd ball. DOT ball. Fumble by the square leg field results in 2 runs. Rahul hit the last ball of the over for four. KXIP: 58/2, Lokesh Rahul: 33 (25b) and Karun Nair: 13 (15b)

Over 10: Shreyas Gopal to Nair, single taken. Rahul took a single of the next ball. Gopal conceded two singles of the 3rd and 4th ball. Nair hit the 5th ball for 6, a classic inside-out shot. Gopal bowled a dot ball to end the over. KXIP: 68/2, Lokesh Rahul: 35 (27b) and Karun Nair: 21 (19b)

Over 11: Anureet Singh to Rahul, one run taken. Nair took double off the 2nd ball. Nair hit a brilliant a brilliant six and took a double of the next ball before he played down of the 5th ball. Rajasthan Royals desperately needed this wicket as Rahul and Nair had 50 runs stand. Axar Patel came to the crease and took a single. KXIP: 80/3 Karun Nair b Anureet Singh 31 (23b 2x4 2x6)

Over 12: Unadkat to Axar Patel, risky single taken. DOT ball. Outside edge but didn't reach the keeper. Rahul took a single off the 4th ball. Axar took single off the 5th ball. Rahul played another dot ball as Rajasthan kept the lid on the run-flow. KXIP: 83/3, Lokesh Rahul: 37 (32b) and Axar Patel 3 (3b)

Over 13: Gowtham to Patel, one run taken. Lokesh Rahul took two runs of the 2nd ball. DOT ball. single taken by Rahu. Axar Patel departs while trying to hit a six and Short took a good catch. Marcus Stoinis came to the crease after the wicket of Axar. DOT bal to end the over. KXIP: 87/4, Axar Patel c Short b Gowtham 4 (5b 0x4 0x6)

Over 14: Shreyas Gopal to Rahul, no run. Gopal gave away 8 runs in the over as Stoinis hit the 5th ball for 6. KXIP: 95/4, Lokesh Rahul: 41 (37b) and Marcus Stoinis: 7 (5b)

Over 15: Unadkat to Stoinis, WIDE. DOT ball. Unadkat took the outside edge and fly past the keeper, unlucky. DOT ball. Risky single taken by the Stoinis. Rahul hit the ball in air Samson took a stunner, but third umpire gone with the on-field umpire soft signal, NOT OUT. Single taken by Rahul to end the over. KXIP: 95/4 Lokesh Rahul: 41 (37b) and Marcus Stoinis: 7 (5b)

Kings XI Punjab needed another 51 runs with 6 wickets and 30 balls remaining with a required rate of 10.2 rpo

Over 16: Ben Stokes to Rahul, One run. Stoinis took single of the 2nd ball. Rahul took 2 doubles off the 3rd and 4th ball. Stokes gave away 8 runs. KXIP: 110/4, Lokesh Rahul: 48 (43b) and Marcus Stoinis: 14 (11b)

Over 17: Archer came to bowl and gave away 16 runs as Rahul completes his fifty with a six over third man boundary. KXIP: 126/4, Lokesh Rahul: 55 (45b) and Marcus Stoinis: 23 (15b)

Over 18: Unadkat to Rahul, 2 runs taken. Another double taken by Rahul followed by a six over the deep square leg fielder. Rahul hit a brilliant cut shot to bring four. Rahul took a single off the next ball. Stoinis played dot ball to end the over. KXIP: 141/4, Lokesh Rahul: 70 (50b) and Marcus Stoinis: 23 (16b) Over 19:Archer to Rahul, 2 runs taken followed by brilliant six down the ground. Two runs taken of the 3rd ball. Rahul hit a calssic cover drive for four and KXIP won by 6 wickets

Over 1: R Aswin to Butler, single taken. Short took double of the 2nd ball. Short out, skier taken by Tye. Bulter hit the 4th ball for 4. Ashwin bowled 2 dot balls to end the over.

RR: 7/1, D'Archy Short c Tye b Ashwin 2 (2b 0x4 0x6)

Over 2: Ankit Rajpoot to Rahane, single taken. Butler hit the 2nd ball for 4 over the mid-wicket fielder. DOT ball. Bulter tried to play scoop shot by failed to do so, ball went for 4 byes. Butler hit two consecutive fours to end the over. RR: 24/1

Over 3: Mujeeb Ur Rahman to Rahane, single taken. Butler took a tight single. Another single taken by Rahane. Butler hit a beautiful cover drive to bring 4 for Rajasthan Royals. Leg-bye taken of the next ball. Rahane took single to end the over. RR: 33/1, Rahane 4 (4b), Butler 22 (12b)

Over 6: Axar Patel to Butler, single taken. Samson played two dot balls of the next two balls. Lye bye taken of the 4th ball. DOt ball. Quick single taken off the last ball. RR: 45/2, Jos Buttler 29(20b) and Sanju Samson 3(7b)

Over 7: Ashwin to Butler, no run given OUT but reversed by DRS. Singel taken by Butler of the next ball. Samson hit the 3rd ball to bring 50 for Rajasthan Royals. DOT ball. Samson cut the 5th ball for 4 in the point region followed by single to end the over. RR: 57/2, Jos Buttler 30(22b) and Sanju Samson 14(11b)

Over 8: Axar Patel to Samson, classic cover drive for 4. Samson took single of the 2nd ball. Butler took single off the 3rd ball. Another single taken. Single taken to end the over. RR: 66/2, Jos Buttler 32(24b) and Sanju Samson 21(15b)

Over 9: Andrew Tye to Samson, one run taken. Bulter took double of the next ball followed by single. Samson took single of the 4th ball. DOT ball. Butler hit four to end the over. RR: 75/2

Over 10: Marcus Stoinis, 2 runs taken followed by a single. Butler took single off the 3rd ball. Another single taken by Samson off the 4th ball. DOT ball. Quick single taken to end the over. RR: 81/2, Jos Buttler: 41(31b) and Sanju Samson 27(20b)

Over 11: Andrew Tye to Butler, leg bye taken. Samson beaten outside edge as ball just went past the outside edge. Samson took single off the 3rd ball. Another single taken by Butler. Samson again out of the pull shot. Single taken by Stokes to end the over. RR: 85/3, Sanju Samson c Nair b Tye 28 (23b 2x4 1x6)

Over 12: Ashwin to Stokes, no run. Single taken of the next ball. Two runs taken. Stokes hit the 5th ball for 4 followed by a single. RR: 94/3

Over 13: Mujeeb to Stokes, no run. Butler reverse swept the next ball for 4 followed by a single. Butler took a single off the next ball. Mayank skills at the boundary line got the wicket of Stokes, a relay catch taken Tiwary. Butler hit the next ball for 4 to end the over. RR: 104/4, Ben Stokes c Tiwary b Mujeeb Ur Rahman 12 (9b 2x4 0x6)

Over 14: Ashwin to Tripathi, no run. Ashwin bowled brilliantly to gave away only 2 runs as Tripathi has beaten most of the occasions. RR: 106/4.

Over 15: Mujeeb to Butler, OUT, outside edge help by Rahul. Jofra Archer came to crease and clean bowled, OUT. Mujeeb on hattrick but avoided by Gowtham. Mujeeb gave away 4 runs in his final quota of overs. RR: 110/6, Jos Buttler c Rahul b Mujeeb Ur Rahman 51 (39b 7x4 0x6), Jofra Archer b Mujeeb Ur Rahman 0 (1b 0x4 0x6)

Over 16: Ankit Rajpoot to Gowtham, miss field went for four. Gowthan out of the short ball, irresponsible batting. Gopal took 2 runs of the overthrow followed by single to bring Tripathi on strike. Tripathi took 2 runs of the 5th ball followed by 4 to end the over. RR: 123/7, Krishnappa Gowtham c Stoinis b Rajpoot 5 (3b 1x4 0x6)

Over 17: Axar Patel to Gopal, 2 runs taken of the first ball. Axar didnt allow RR batsmen to allow hitting big runs as he gave away only 4 runs in the remaining 5 balls. RR were scoring at a run-rate of 7.58 rpo. RR: 129/7

Over 18: Andrew Tye to Tripathi, slower ball OUT. Rajasthan Royals again failed to make a mark. Gopal took single. Unadkat who came to the crease after Tripathi's wicket took a single off the 3rd ball. Another single taken by Gopal. Unadkat took a single off the 5th ball. Gopal timed brilliantly for four of the last ball. RR: 137/8, Shreyas Gopal: 13 (9b) and Jaydev Unadkat 2 (2b)

Over 19: Rajpoot to Unadkat, one run taken. DOT ball. Gopal hit two superb boundaries on the off side to bring some quick runs Took single off the next ball. Unadkat took a single off the last ball of the penultimate over. RR: 148/8. Shreyas Gopal: 22 (13b) and Jaydev Unadkat 4 (4b)

Over 20: Andrew Tye to Unadkat, one run taken off full toss. DOT ball. Gopal took single of the 3rd ball to bring 150 for Rajasthan Royals. Another single taken by the Unadkat. Tye gave away 4 runs in last over of the innings. RR: 152/9, Shreyas Gopal run out (Rahul) 24 (16b 3x4 0x6) SR: 150.00

KXIP won the toss and chose to field first, Ashwin bowled the first over and took the wicket of D Arcy Short. Buttler hit a boundary after that. Rahane came to bat, Ankit Rajpoot came to bowl the second over, Buttler hit four boundaries off it. Mujeeb Ur Rahman came for the third over, Buttler hit a biundary to the long off. 9 runs came off the over. Axar Patel came for the next over. Rahane was caught by Gayle on the 4th ball. Sanju Samson came next, 4 runs came pff the over. Mujeeb came next, batsmen were taking single between the wickets. Axar came next and gave just 3 runs from it. R Ashwin was back on attack, Samson hit a six on the third ball and then a boundary on the fifth ball. Axar came for the 8th over, Samson hit a boundary on the first ball, 5 singles came after that. Andrew Tye came for the 9th over, a boundary came off the last ball. Marcus Stoinis came for te 10th over, batsmen were running between the wickets

RR were 80/2 after 10 overs, Samson and Buttler were at the crease. Te run rate was 8.1 per over.