Punjab Kings marched to a 5-wicket win over Rajasthan Royals on Wednesday at the Barsaparas Stadium in Guwahati, Assam in the ongoing season of the Indian Premier League.
PBKS restricted RR to 144 runs for the loss of 9 wickets in 20 overs before chasing down the target with 7 deliveries left to spare.
Punjab skipper Sam Curran played a starring role in the win as he picked up two wickets with the ball, before chipping in with an unbeaten half-century against the Royals at Assam.
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PBKS bowlers did an exceptional job of limiting RR to a total of below the 150-run mark as Curran, Rahul Chahar and Harshal Patel all scalped two wickets each. Australian pacer Nathan Ellis, who added a wicket, was also crucial in hampering the flow of runs for the side from Jaipur as Curran lauded his side’s bowlers.
“We bowled really well as a group. The message was that we had a lot of pride to play for,” the Englishman said.
“Ellis was absolutely amazing in his first game of the season. Probably should’ve played him earlier,” he continued.
He touched upon the nature of the pitch on the day and revealed the chat he had with compatriot Jonny Bairstow when he stepped out to bat.
“When I went in, Jonny said it was quite tough. It was holding a little bit. I didn’t need to take too much risk. I knew on a ground like this, that we just needed a couple of sixes,” Curran said.
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Curran and Bairstow will leave to join up with their English teammates ahead of the upcoming ICC T20 World Cup in the West Indies and the USA. Curran added that he had enjoyed the atmosphere around the camp.
“Me and Jonny are leaving tomorrow. It is obviously nice. We have thoroughly enjoyed the season, and I have enjoyed captaining,”
“The atmosphere around the group has been really good. Excited about the World Cup,” he added.
He also expressed his delight with the performances of the Indians for the side throughout the season and opined that the team was close to something big, despite having been knocked out of the playoff race this season due to some gilt-edged fixtures that did not break their way.
“Hindsight is a wonderful thing. We had so many close games. I feel like the team is close to something. Who knows what the future holds?”
“Loads of positives though. The chase in Kolkata. The way Shashank Singh has come into the team is amazing. Ashutosh as well. Harshal and Arshdeep have bowled well too,” he signed off.
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