Rajasthan Royals played an unprecedented game of cricket after they registered a record-breaking run chase at Sharjah. The target of 224 that was chased by RR with three balls to spare is the highest target successfully chased down in 13 years of IPL history.
The record-holders broke their own record they achieved in the maiden season of the Indian Premier League chasing a total of 215 against Deccan Chargers in 2008. Another record that Royals made theirs is the most runs scored by a team in the last five overs of a successful run chase in IPL, scoring 86.
Rajasthan were off to a flying start despite Jos Butler’s early dismissal as Steve Smith and Sanju Samson mitigated their concerns until the first ten overs of the game. The momentum slid towards KXIP as they were 140 for the loss of two wickets by the end of the 15th over. However, more drama was on its way as they went on to score 86 off the last 4.3 overs.
The previous best was 77, scored by Chennai against Bangalore in 2012. Rahul Tewatia saw a complete switch of fortunes as he went on from scoring just eight runs from the first 19 balls he faced then turning everyone in his support as he fired 45 from the next 12 balls he faced, including the wicket.
Seven Sixes scored by the left-hander is the joint-most in an IPL innings equalling Nitish Rana and Sanju Samson. Even though Punjab lost the game, a 45-ball ton by Mayank Agarwal who scored his maiden IPL century became the second-fastest Indian batsman to do so after Yusuf Pathan’s 37-ball effort against Mumbai Indians in 2010.
62 sixes were hit in just two games hosted by Sharjah in this season of IPL, where 33 came in the game of Chennai and Delhi and 29 in this one. While talking in the post-match presentation Tewatia said, “They were the worst 20 balls I have ever played.”
He then explained why was promoted in the batting order in a high-intensity run chase and the reason was his performance in the nets. The team and the staff knew that he could hit it long. However, the dugout was pretty naive about their decision keeping in mind the way Tewatia started. Tewatia then explained that it was just a matter of one six to really catch his rhythm and it truly was.
featured image credits- thequint
