Guwahati: In the history of IPL, for years to come, this match could remain a benchmark for not only high-quality T20 batsmanship but also a jaw-dropping marker of the game.
Kings XI Punjab, powered by Mayank Agarwal’s hundred, posted a total that had never been surpassed in this league, but Rajasthan Royals pulled off a nerve-splaying heist, adding a fresh tale to the Sharjah folklore.
From being the potential fall guy, Rahul Tewatia emerged an unlikely hero, scoring a 31-ball 53.
But for much of his knock, he seemed a nervous wreck frazzled by the enormity of the situation and the steepness of the unenviable task he was deputed with.
Despatched as the surprise pinch-hitter at the fall of Steve Smith, the left-hander crawled to 17 off 23 balls, and in the process piled on the pressure that probably resulted in the dismissal of Sanju Samson, who seemed the Royals only avenue to victory.
Tewatia was swiping and swishing at thin air, his promotion seeming a strategic faux pas.
So inept was Tewatia that Samson turned down a single at one point. But when he got out, Rajasthan Royals required just two off seven balls.
With Samson gone for a sumptuous 85 in the previous over, Rajasthan Royals required 63 off 23 balls, and when the Cottrell over began, they needed 51 off 18.
Tewatia was promoted ahead of Robin Uthappa to No. 4 in the batting line-up after captain Steve Smith was dismissed for a breezy 50 off just 27 balls.
The lens zoomed in on Robin Uthappa, engineer of several heists in the past. Tewatia would have been shirking from the lens.
However, Mohammed Shami returned and got Samson caught behind for 85 off 42 and that seemed to be the match for KXIP.
Tewatia’s dramatic change of heart somewhat overshadowed Mayank Agarwal’s maiden IPL hundred. Agarwal batted out of his skin, scoring 106 off just 50 balls with 10 fours and 7 sixes, and was well-accompanied by skipper KL Rahul, who hit 69 off 54.
The duo shared a 183-run opening stand and laid the platform for a high-scoring match on the flattest of decks in Sharjah.
Maxwell remained unbeaten on 13 off 9 and Nicholas Pooran, who pulled off a spectacular save on the boundary by parrying a ball that was certain to land beyond the rope into the field of play while himself being airborne, hit 25 off 8 with three sixes.
Pooran’s effort created waves on social media with commentators and experts singing paeans to the Caribbean’s effort, but it was of little consolation in the end as sixes that were beyond Pooran’s or anybody’s reach and landed in the empty stands of Sharjah or in the streets beyond.
The bowlers on both sides had a day to forget as Shami returned 3/53 in four overs and Cottrell got 1/52 in three. For RR, Ankit Rajpoot and Tom Curran got a wicket each.
