Rajasthan Royals pulled off an incredible heist by making the highest successful run-chase ever in IPL history as they chased down the target of 223 with three balls to spare against Kings XI Punjab.
In the process, they bettered their previous record of chasing down 215 against Deccan Chargers in Hyderabad back in 2008, the year they won their only IPL title so far. The RR vs KXIP contest saw as may as 29 sixes being hit in the match.
Here are the 5 talking points from the RR vs KXIP game:
1. The Mayank Agarwal Show in RR vs KXIP Contest
Karnataka batsman Mayank Agarwal brought up his maiden IPL century in the IPL against the Royals. He scored 106 off 50 balls thereby setting up the match in Punjab’s favour. He hit as many as 17 boundaries in his innings and added a 183-run opening stand with his skipper KL Rahul.
This was also the second hundred scored by a KXIP batsman this season after Rahul’s unbeaten 132 against RCB in Dubai. Mayank’s ton was the second quickest by an Indian batsman after Yusuf Pathan’s 37-ball ton against MI back in 2010.
2. Mayank-Rahul’s Opening Stand of 183
The opening stand of 183 between the two batsmen was the third-highest opening wicket stand in IPL. It was also the second-highest opening stand for KXIP overtaking Adam Gilchrist and Shaun Marsh’s 202-run stand against RCB in 2011.
3. Royals’ Flourish In the Final Five
Rajasthan Royals scored 86 in the last 4.3 overs of their chase in the RR vs KXIP contest. They were 100/1 in the ninth over to 140/2 in the 15th before hitting 86 in the last five overs.
This is the highest scored by any team in the last five overs overtaking CSK’s 77 against RCB in 2012.
4. Rahul Tewatia’s Terrific Turnaround
Rahul Tewatia was slotted to number three as a pinch-hitter by the Royals after the fall of the second wicket. The decision seemed like a suicidal one with him not being able to strike anything in his first 19 balls, scoring just 98
. In the last 12 balls, he was striking at 375 as he turned it around for the Royals in the RR vs KXIP contest. 6.0.2.1.6.6.6.6.0.6.6.W, this is how Tewatia played his last 12 balls. Tewatia’s innings is one of the highlights and one of the 5 talking points from RR vs KXIP game.
Also Read: 5 Unknown Facts About Rahul Tewatia
5) Raining Sixes in Sharjah in RR vs KXIP Contest
So far 62 sixes have been hit in the first two games in Sharjah. 29 in RR vs KXIP contest and 33 in RR vs CSK. Meanwhile, the seven matches played in Abu Dhabi (33) and Dubai (32) have yielded a total of 65 sixes.
