NEW DELHI: Rajasthan Royals registered a key four-wicket last-over win over Punjab Kings of their closing league recreation as Sanju Samson and co. saved their slim play-off hopes alive in what has been a roller-coaster enterprise finish of the season.
With their seventh win, Rajasthan climbed to the fifth spot on the desk as their destiny is now on the opposite outcomes if they’re to make it to the knockouts. Punjab, alternatively are actually eradicated from the top-four race after Shikhar Dhawan and co. have been handed their eighth defeat of the season.

Chasing a tough 188 for victory on a batting pleasant Dharamsala observe, fifties from Devdutt Padikkal and Yashasvi Jaiswal and a quickfire 28-ball 46 from Shimron Hetmyer helped Royals cross the end line with 2 balls to spare.

Sent into bat, PBKS have been reeling at 50 for 4 however Sam Curran (49 not out) and Jitesh Sharma (44 off 28 balls) revived the innings whereas M Shahrukh Khan (41 not out off) supplied the late surge to energy the facet to 187 for five.
As It Happened
A goal of 188 was by no means going to be straightforward and RR wanted to finish the chase in 18.3 overs to momentarily get forward of Royal Challengers Bangalore’s web runrate however they could not.

But nonetheless RR obtained two factors to remain afloat with Jaiswal (50 off 36) scripting the chase, including 73 off 49 balls with Padikkal (51 off 30) and one other 47 off 22 balls with Shimron Hetmyer (46) as RR romped house in 19.4 overs.
With the win, RR moved to fifth spot with 14 factors, similar as RCB (4th) and Mumbai Indians (sixth), who each nonetheless have a match to play within the league stage.
The loss meant, PBKS are formally out of the IPL.
Chasing 188, RR suffered an early setback with Kagiso Rabada getting Jos Buttler LBW for his third duck.
But Padikkal and Jaiswal batted with objective to take RR to 85 for 1 in 9.4 overs.
While Jaiswal started the chase with a hat-trick of fours, Padikkal, who was promoted up the order, then took the cost, sending the bowlers on a leather-based hunt.
But RR misplaced Padikkal and skipper Sanju Samson (3) in fast succession to depart them at 90 for 3 within the eleventh over.
Jaiswal then discovered an ideal associate in Hetmyer, who slipped into the position of the aggressor with three sixes early on.
Jaiswal accomplished his fifty in 35 balls earlier than falling to a reverse hit off Nathan Ellis.
With each Jaiswal and Padikkal departing after finishing their fifties, RR nonetheless wanted 51 off 33 balls and it was Riyan Parag (20 off 12 balls) who slammed two successive sixes off Rabada to convey the equation down.
But PBKS skipper Shikhar Dhawan pulled off a sensational catch to finish Hetymer’s keep at the same time as RR introduced in Dhruv Jurel as an affect sub, who clobbered a six within the fourth ball of the final over to knock off the profitable runs.
Earlier, PBKS have been down 50 for 4 in 6.3 overs however Curran and Jitesh added 64 to resurrect the innings with the latter being the aggressor.
Curran and Shahrukh then piled up 73 off 37 balls with 46 of them coming off the final 2 overs to take them to a great rating.
It was the second final over which proved to be a turning level with Yuzvendra Chahal, who had conceded 12 runs in his first three overs, went for 28 runs with Curran and Shahrukh producing some scientific hitting.
Shahrukh then milked Trent Boult (1/35) for 18 runs because the final 5 overs yielded 70 runs.
Forced into the XI because of R Ashwin’s again spasm, Adam Zampa completed with 1 for 26, whereas Navdeep (3/40) picked up three wickets however Sandeep Sharma had a forgettable outing as he bled 46.
Boult pegged PBKS again early on, dismissing Prabhsimran Singh (2) with a caught and bowl effort however Dhawan (17) and Atharva Taide (19) picked some boundaries as they have been 38 for 1 in 3.3 overs.
However, enjoying solely his second recreation, Navdeep broke the partnership with Atharva (19) holing out at midwicket after hitting successive fours.
Boult and Zampa conceded simply 3 runs every within the subsequent two overs which put Dhawan underneath strain and he was then trapped by Zampa in entrance.
Liam Livingstone was Saini’s second sufferer as PBKS slipped to 50 for 4.
However, after the strategic timeout, Jitesh modified gears, smashing Sandeep Sharma for 2 maximums earlier than thumping Zampa throughout the deep further cowl.
Saini was subsequent in his firing line, slicing one throughout level earlier than smoking him over deep further cowl. A brief ball was subsequent hammered throughout the mid-wicket area. However, a slower supply did the trick with Jitesh holing out at further cowl.
Shahrukh then joined Curran however they could not discover the massive hits initially earlier than exploding within the nineteenth over bowled by Chahal.

The first two balls have been despatched for a 4 and 6 by Shahrukh earlier than Curran took over, clobbering two sixes and a 4 to take PBKS throughout the 150-mark. Shahrukh then blasted a six and 4 to complete it in type.
(With inputs from PTI)
Watch IPL: Rajasthan Royals beat Punjab Kings to keep play-off hopes alive