NEW DELHI: Rajasthan Royals secured their fifth victory of
IPL 2024
with a nail-biting three-wicket win over Punjab Kings, but according to
Aaron Finch
, they made the chase of 148 a bit too challenging for themselves. Despite this,
Shimron Hetmyer
's cool-headed innings, backed by
Rovman Powell
's timely contributions, guided RR to victory and maintained their top spot on the points table.
"I thought that Rajasthan had left a little bit too much to do towards the back end. They just couldn't get any duality through the middle part of that inning," commented Finch on ‘Cricket Live’ show on Star Sports.
However, Finch praised Hetmyer's composure under pressure, especially considering his limited playing time in the tournament.
Yashasvi Jaiswal
's mature innings, earning him 39 runs off 28 balls, also drew applause from former India fast-bowler S Sreesanth, who believes Jaiswal's form could elevate RR's performance further.
"It was so good to see Yashasvi among the runs. I think he was listening to what the legend said because he waited. He didn't play any unwanted risky shots. He played with the merit of the ball. So it was good to see and it was good for Rajasthan Royals," remarked Sreesanth.
Meanwhile, Punjab Kings' Kagiso Rabada's impactful spell, despite a tough start, showcased his potential to turn matches around. Brian Lara emphasized Rabada's importance in maintaining consistency in PBKS's bowling lineup.
ALSO SEE: IPL 2024 POINTS TABLE
"Yeah, wonderful. Didn't pick up anything in the powerplay, but obviously came back in search of wickets. He's not one of those guys you're going to bring back to sort of stem the flow of runs," Lara said.
RR will face Kolkata Knight Riders in their next match, while PBKS will host Mumbai Indians, both aiming for crucial victories in the tournament.
(Inputs from IANS)
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