Punjab Kings (PBKS), on Monday, secured a four-run victory over
their season-opener rivals Rajasthan Royals (RR). Depending upon a 221-run total
score that stemmed largely from first innings fireworks from two of the team’s
dedicated bats belonging respectively to skipper KL Rahul and top-order batsman
Deepak Hooda, the Kings mounted the pressure on Rajasthan Royals early on in
the match.

The score was closed in on by Royals skipper Sanju Samson in
the second innings, but remained unattainable with him being dismissed in the
last over.

Also read: IPL 2021 highlights: Punjab Kings beat Rajasthan Royals by four runs

In the first innings, KL Rahul played an immaculate 91-run
innings from 50 balls, with Hooda giving him able company on the crease, scoring
64 off 28 balls.

While an early breakthrough by Chetan Sakariya managed to
break into the PBKS batting order, a relentless show by the two aforementioned
batsmen as well as an in-between 40 run innings by Chris Gayle did not leave
much scope for the RR bowlers to portray their performance.

Sakariya and Chris Morris picked up a wicket each, where left-arm
pacer Mustafizur Rahman picked up three wickets.

Also read: Who is Deepak Hooda, the PBKS batsman who smashed 64 off 28 balls

Chasing down the hefty total, RR lost its opener Ben Stokes
in the very first ball, as he left after lofting a catch that was caught by KL
Rahul at the very last moment.

Skipper Sanju Samson contributed majorly to the run-chase,
scoring 119 runs off 63 balls, assisted at times by Joss Buttler (25 off 13),
Shivam Dube (23 off 15) or Riyan Parag (25 off 11).

Also read: ‘Almost underarm’: Riyan Parag’s bowling action makes commentators chuckle

The chase, however, remained incomplete, as turning down a
single when his side needed 5 from 2 deliveries, the skipper decisively went
big, but caught by Hooda inches away from a sixer.

Among Punjab Kings bowlers, Mohammed Shami,  Jhye Richardson and Murugan Ashwin picked up
two wickets each.