IPL 2021, RR vs PBKS Highlights: Samson's century goes in vain as Punjab beat Rajasthan in a thriller

IPL 2021 Live Score, RR vs PBKS Highlights: Chasing a 222-run target, RR fell short of 5 runs from winning the match despite Samson's brilliant ton.

Sanju Samson plays shot against PBKS (Source: Twitter)

Sanju Samson (119 off 63 balls) scored a hundred on his Indian Premier League (IPL) captaincy debut but couldn't take Rajasthan Royals (RR) past the finish line, getting dismissed off the last ball of the match as his team lost to Punjab Kings (PBKS) by four runs at the Wankhede Stadium on Monday night.

RR looked very much in the game throughout as Samson brought the equation down to 5 runs off two balls. However, he refused to take a run on the second last ball after he had hit it to deep extra cover which could have fetched them a run, even a double. Instead, he eyed a glory shot for six on the last ball, but holed out to deep extra cover as his side fell short by four runs.

RR had got off to a worse possible start, losing their power-hitting all-rounder Ben Stokes to Mohammed Shami in the first over of the innings. Soon Manan Vohra, the other opener was sent back, leaving the Jaipur franchise at 25 for two in the fourth over.

What followed though was an imperious show of batting from Samson as he clobbered seven sixes and 12 fours to take the game to the wire.

He built a couple of half-century partnerships with Shivam Dube and Riyan Parag and one of 45 with Jos Buttler to keep his team in the match.

Earlier, a 105-run partnership for the third wicket in just 46 balls between skipper K.L. Rahul (91 off 50 balls) and Deepak Hooda (64 off 28 balls) helped Punjab Kings post 221/6 in their 20 overs.

12 April 2021

23:22 PM

Sanju Samson hits century

RR skipper Sanju Samson smashed the first century of IPL 2021 to keep his team alive in the 222-run chase. With this, Samson has become the first man to get a hundred on IPL captaincy debut.

22:55 PM

RR 128/4 after 13 overs

RR skipper Sanju Samson's quickfire fifty has kept his team alive in the challenging 222-run chase after Rajasthan lost early wickets. Samson has so far scored 58 runs and is going strong.

21:31 PM

RR 30/2 after 4 overs

Rajasthan Royals are off to a bad start as they have lost Ben Stokes and Manan Vohra early in their 222-run chase.

21:27 PM

Punjab Kings set 222-run target for Rajasthan Royals

KL Rahul (91), Deepak Hooda (64), Chris Gayle (40) powered Punjab Kings to 221/6 against Rajasthan Royals in game four of IPL 2021. RR need 222 runs to win.

20:24 PM

PBKS 130/2 after 13 overs

Punjab Kings lost Gayle in the 10th over but Rahul has kept the tempo going with his big hits. The PBKS skipper has also completed his half-century in the process,

19:58 PM

PBKS 82/1 after 9 overs

Punjab Kings have been little affected by the early departure of Agarwal as Chris Gayle and KL Rahul have dealt in boundaries so far to help their side score 82 runs after 9 overs.

19:17 PM

Sakariya removes Mayank

Out! Edged and gone. Sakariya strikes to get his maiden IPL wicket. Outside off stump and Agarwal made room and tried to hit it over the covers but only managed to edge it to the wicket-keeper. Mayank c Samson b Chetan Sakariya 14(9) [4s-2]

19:11 PM

Teams:

Punjab Kings (Playing XI): KL Rahul(w/c), Mayank Agarwal, Chris Gayle, Nicholas Pooran, Deepak Hooda, Shahrukh Khan, Jhye Richardson, Murugan Ashwin, Riley Meredith, Mohammed Shami, Arshdeep Singh

Rajasthan Royals (Playing XI): Manan Vohra, Ben Stokes, Sanju Samson(c), Jos Buttler(w), Riyan Parag, Shivam Dube, Rahul Tewatia, Chris Morris, Shreyas Gopal, Chetan Sakariya, Mustafizur Rahman

18:54 PM

RR opt to bowl first

Rajasthan Royals' skipper Sanju Samson won the toss and he opted to bowl first against Punjab Kings at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.