Jaipur (Rajasthan) [India], May 18 : A career-best half-century from Nehal Wadhera and a blistering effort from Shashank Singh towards the end overs helped Punjab Kings (PBKS) score 219/5 in their 20 overs against Rajasthan Royals (RR) in their Indian Premier League (IPL) match at Jaipur on Sunday.
After being reduced to 34/3 following their decision to bat first, half-centuries from Wadhera (70* in 37 balls, with five fours and five sixes) and Shashank (59* in 30 balls, with five fours and three sixes) gave PBKS a massive score to defend, with supporting knocks from skipper Shreyas Iyer and Azmatullah Omarzai.
After winning the toss and opting to bat first, openers Prabhsimran Singh and Priyansh Arya started off by striking some boundaries. However, Tushar Deshpande got Priyansh for nine in seven deliveries, with Shimron Hetmyer taking a catch at mid-off. PBKS was 19/1 in 1.5 overs.
Debutant Mitchell Owen joined Prabhsimran. While Prabhsimran continued his rich run of form by attacking Kwena Maphaka, Owen was dismissed by the South African U19 star for a two-ball duck, with skipper Sanju Samson taking a catch. RR was 34/2 in three overs.
Deshpande just could not be kept out of action as he removed Prabhsimran for 21 in 10 balls, with three fours and a six. PBKS is 34/3 in 3.1 overs.
Towards the final few balls of the powerplay, skipper Shreyas Iyer and Nehal Wadhera collected some boundaries against RR pace, with PBKS bringing up their 50-run mark in 5.2 overs. At the end of six overs, PBKS was 58/3, with Nehal (11*) and Shreyas (13*) unbeaten.
Nehal and Iyer continued to strike one odd boundary or two every over, with the left-handed batter doing well against spinners Riyan Parag and Wanindu Hasaranga. Their half-century stand was up in 34 balls.
At the end of 10 overs, PBKS was 97/3, with Nehal (37*) and Shreyas (26*) unbeaten.
The 100-run mark was up for PBKS in 10.2 overs, thanks to a fine four by Iyer against Parag. However, the PBKS skipper was caught at long-off by Yashasvi Jaiswal on the next ball for 30 in 25 balls, with five fours. PBKS was 101/4 in 10.3 overs.
Nehal was joined by Shashank Singh at the crease and the duo looted 17 runs from Akash Madhwal in the 13th over, with a four by Shashank and a four and six by Wadhera, who reached his fourth IPL fifty in 25 balls, with five fours and three sixes.
At the end of 15 overs, PBKS was 147/4 with Shashank (18*) and Nehal (63*) unbeaten.
A low catch from Hetmyer in the 16th over gave Madhwal the scalp of Nehal for 70 in 37 balls, with five fours and five sixes. PBKS was 159/5 in 16 overs.
In the next over, Shashank made a meal out of Fazalhaq Farooqi, smashing him for two fours and a six, with him and Azmatullah Omarzai looting 18 runs from his over. It was Omarzai's turn to be the aggressor, as he hit Maphaka for two fours and a six.
PBKS reached the 200-run mark in 18.5 overs.
In the final over, Shashank continued his onslaught on Deshpande, bringing up his fourth IPL fifty in 27 balls, with four boundaries and three sixes. PBKS ended their innings at 219/5, with Shashank (59* in 30 balls, with five boundaries and three sixes) and Omarzai (21* in nine balls, with three fours and a six).
Deshpande (2/37) was the lead bowler for RR. Maphaka, Parag and Madhwal got a wicket each.