IPL 2018: Rahul’s 91 in vain as RR win by 15 runs, keep playoffs hope alive

In the 40th match of Vivo Indian Premier League (IPL 2018) Rajasthan Royals beat Kings XI Punjab (KXIP) by 15 runs to keep their hopes alive in the tournament. Rahul scored 91 Rajasthan Royals players Celebrate wicket of Kings XI Punjab batsman Ravichandran Ashwin during IPL 2018 cricket match at Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur.

IPL 2018 : In the 40th match of VIVO Indian Premier League (IPL 2018), chasing 159, Kings XI Punjab lost the match to Rajasthan Royals by 15 runs, despite K L Rahul’s brilliant 91-run innings. Only Stoinis could manage to get into double figures other than Rahul, rest of the batsmen were dismissed in single figures. Gayle, Nair, Ashwin, Tiwari, all failed to score runs. Krishnappa Gowtham dismissed Gayle and Ashwin in one over. Earlier, Jos Butler powered RR to 58 with a remarkable inning of 82. With this win, they RR still have the hopes alive of making it into the playoffs. Rajasthan Royals moved to the sixth position on the VIVO IPL points table.

Earlier, Kings XI Punjab’s Andrew Tye (4/34) came with a clinical bowling show to restrict Rajasthan Royals to 158/8. Bottom-placed Rajasthan would not have even crossed the 100-run mark but thanks to a blistering 58-ball 82 by opener Jos Buttler that propelled the hosts to a moderate total. Opting to bat, Rajasthan were off to a quick start, accumulating 35 runs in the first three overs. Tye drew the first blood for Punjab as his knuckleball played the trick to dismiss opener Ajinkya Rahane (9) in the fourth over. Butler however, continued to fully utilise the power play to take his side past the 50-run mark in five overs. Marcus Stoinis gave the second blow to the hosts when Krishnappa Gowtham (8) misread a slower delivery and gave an easy catch to Manoj Tiwary at long on in the seventh over. Other than Tye, Afghanistan spinner Mujeeb bagged a couple of wickets conceding 21 runs in four overs while Stoinis chipped in with one wicket.

IPL 2018 Match 40 KXIP vs RR SCOREBOARD

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