Sanju Samson marked his captaincy debut in style as he became the first IPL skipper to score a hundred, leading for the first time. Sadly, his blazing hundred was not enough for the Rajasthan Royals take down 222 as they fell four runs short. Punjab Kings raised their batting tempo at the very correct time as half-centuries from KL Rahul and Deepak Hooda lifted them to 221 in their stipulated 20 overs. Punjab Kings was fortunate enough as they dropped Sanju Samson once, but left-arm seamer Arshdeep Singh emerged as the hero, defending 13 runs by dismissing the centurion in the last ball of the innings.
Also Read: Watch: KL Rahul Falls For 91 As Rahul Tewatia Takes A Screamer At Deep Mid-Wicket
After putting into bat first, Mayank Agarwal departed early, but KL Rahul and Chris Gayle motored along well before Gayle holed out to long-off for 40. Punjab Kings pulled off a masterstroke by sending Deepak Hooda above Nicholas Pooran as the former exhibited a fine display of power-hitting, slamming 64 off 28 balls. Hooda and KL Rahul added 105 for the fourth wicket from 47 balls. Punjab captain Rahul fell for 91 in the final over as Royals debutant Chetan Sakariya finished with three scalps.
Ben Stokes perished in the first over without scoring in the third ball. Punjab Kings dropped Manan Vohra and Sanju Samson once; however, the former hit it straight to bowler Arshdeep Singh, who took a stunning reflex catch. Jos Buttler departed shortly after hammering debutant paceman Riley Meredith for four boundaries in a row. But Jhye Richardson cleaned him up by delivering a slow off-dipper.
Sanju Samson continued to fight via tiny and brisk partnerships with Shivam Dube, Riyan Parag, and Rahul Tewatia but his valiant and record-breaking 119 was not enough to beat the Punjab Kings in a thrilling encounter. Mohammed Shami proved Punjab’s most economical bowler as he finished with figures of 4-0-33-2; however, Arshdeep Singh was the most successful, having nerves of steel to finish with 4-0-35-3. On the other hand, Punjab Kings’ gun pacers and million-dollar men Jhye Richardson and Riley Meredith experienced off days, despite them finishing with a wicket each.
Below is how Twitter reacted to the 4th match of IPL 2021 between Punjab Kings and Rajasthan Royals:
Well done saradar ji jo the bahot hi Asardar ji #arshdeepsingh
— Irfan Pathan (@IrfanPathan) April 12, 2021
What a incredible 💯 from @IamSanjuSamson 👌👌 #IPL2021 #RRvPBKS
— VVS Laxman (@VVSLaxman281) April 12, 2021
My @PunjabKingsIPL friends of course 😊. Arshdeep to ice the game! https://t.co/jwoQ5cWdJo
— Jimmy Neesham (@JimmyNeesh) April 12, 2021
Doffing my hat to @IamSanjuSamson – thought Punjab had done enough but he took it that far #PBKSvsRR
— Vikrant Gupta (@vikrantgupta73) April 12, 2021
Arshdeep the hero for PBKS! RR fall short by four runs as Samson is caught at the boundary off the final ball #IPL2021 #RRvPBKS https://t.co/4RoiQloaHH
— Cricbuzz (@cricbuzz) April 12, 2021
Not two years in a row, surely! This would be an amazing chase. #RRvPBKS
— Jimmy Neesham (@JimmyNeesh) April 12, 2021
A substantial Sanju Samson innings is an absolute pleasure to watch. First game as captain of @rajasthanroyals and he gets a century 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻.
— Ian bishop (@irbishi) April 12, 2021
Sanju Samson, take a bow! It's a hundred on captaincy debut #IPL2021 #RRvPBKS https://t.co/4RoiQloaHH
— Cricbuzz (@cricbuzz) April 12, 2021
Chris Gayle
Virat Kohli
David Warner
Shane Watson
AB de Villiers
SANJU SAMSONSamson joins an elite club of batsmen to have hit three or more IPL hundreds.#IPL2021 pic.twitter.com/260lUUU64m
— Wisden (@WisdenCricket) April 12, 2021
Right let’s put a counter on dropped catches along with number of sixes this IPL. 😉
— Sanjay Manjrekar (@sanjaymanjrekar) April 12, 2021
Loved the 91 but loved the strike rate even more! If K L Rahul bats at a strike rate of over 140, which he can easily, Punjab Kings will have a much better IPL than the last. #PunjabKings
— Sanjay Manjrekar (@sanjaymanjrekar) April 12, 2021
How impressive was young Chetan Sakariya! Bowled all the tough overs & ended up with an economy of 7.75 when the opposition scored 221. That too at one of the hardest place for a bowler – Wankhede stadium.👏👏👏#RR
— Sanjay Manjrekar (@sanjaymanjrekar) April 12, 2021
Ail Kumble coaching. Gayle and Rahul smashing the ball in red and gold. Is this Punjab or are they actually showing RCB 2016 highlights?
— Joy Bhattacharjya (@joybhattacharj) April 12, 2021
#DeepakHooda is known as Hurricane Hooda in domestic cricket. But, this is the real Hurricane innings of his IPL life.#RRvPBKS #PBKSvsRR
— R P Singh रुद्र प्रताप सिंह (@rpsingh) April 12, 2021
Having @josbuttler behind the stumps for his tactical experience is crucial … Why isn’t he keeping @rajasthanroyals !???? #IPL2021
— Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) April 12, 2021
Liked the look of Chetan Sakariya….he’s got the skills. Moves the ball both ways. Back of the hand slower too. Good pick #RR 👌 #IPL2021
— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) April 12, 2021
K L Rahul…how long before we start calling him Mr. IPL? Makes the art of batting look so KLassssy. #IPL2021 #RRvsPBKS
— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) April 12, 2021
29 wickets in the last BBL and Jhye Richardson has Buttler's name to open his account in IPL 2021.#RRvPBKS
— Cricbuzz (@cricbuzz) April 12, 2021
Klass Rahul @klrahul11 showing why he's one of the top players to watch out for #IPL2021 ! Special knock by a special player, great to watch #Deepakhooda bat the way he does! Thoroughly entertaining 1st half! #RRvsPBKS
— Kris Srikkanth (@KrisSrikkanth) April 12, 2021
And now @josbuttler doesn’t Open !!!!!!!!!! What are you thinking @rajasthanroyals !!!!! #IPL
— Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) April 12, 2021
I think Buttler is enjoying Meredith’s pace….🤔 Game on #IPL #RR #PBKS
— Isa Guha (@isaguha) April 12, 2021
Must confess I don't get the @rajasthanroyals batting order. Buttler is among the best in the world at the top. And Stokes can be a dangerous finisher!
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) April 12, 2021
