Rajasthan Royals end Punjab Kings winning streak in Mullanpur.
Donovan Ferreira produced a calculated 26-ball 52 to steer Rajasthan Royals to a remarkable six-wicket win over Punjab Kings, successfully hunting down a daunting 223-run target.This victory at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium shattered the hosts' seven-match winning streak.While Marcus Stoinis had earlier hammered a 22-ball 62 to propel Punjab to 222, the Royals responded with clinical aggression to reclaim their spot in the top three of the standings.
Fifteen-year-old sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi ignited the pursuit with a lightning 43 off just 16 deliveries.His fearless assault against Arshdeep Singh allowed him to reach 400 runs in a single IPL edition in just 167 balls, surpassing the previous record held by Andre Russell.Yashasvi Jaiswal maintained the tempo with a graceful 51, ensuring the visitors stayed ahead of the required rate during the powerplay.
Punjab briefly clawed back into contention through former Royal Yuzvendra Chahal.The veteran leg-spinner dismantled the middle order by dismissing Jaiswal, Dhruv Jurel, and Riyan Parag, leaving Rajasthan in a precarious position. Historically, Rajasthan has often struggled at this venue, which is known for its high-scoring nature and challenging cross-breezes that affect spin trajectory.
However, the late-order pairing of Ferreira and Shubham Dubey turned the tide.The duo stitched an unbeaten 77-run partnership in just 32 balls.Ferreira’s ability to find boundaries at will against pace specialists Marco Jansen and Lockie Ferguson proved decisive.Dubey supported the cause with a brisk 31, ensuring the chase concluded with four balls to spare.
Punjab Kings remain at the summit of the points table despite this setback.Their bowling unit struggled to contain the Royals' top order, which exploited the hard new ball effectively.Sooryavanshi’s milestone highlights the evolving scouting depth within the Rajasthan camp.This performance marks their third-highest successful chase in tournament history.
Inputs from Agency Threads and Image Courtesy: ANI
