Punjab Kings (PBKS) scored 219 runs in the first innings of the 60th match of the Indian Premier League 2025 (IPL 2025) against Rajasthan Royals (RR) at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur on May 18.
This fixture marked the resumption of the IPL 2025 after a 10-day break. Punjab Kings opted to bat first after winning the toss.
Despite losing early wickets, Punjab Kings’ Nehal Wadhera (70 runs off 37 balls) put on a show with the bat, taking his side past the 200-run mark.
Punjab Kings Lose Early Wickets But Nehal Wadhera CounterattacksÂ
The Kings had second thoughts about their decision to bat first after their top-order was reduced to dust by Rajasthan Royals. Though Prabhsimran Singh (21 runs off 10 balls) looked good during his brief stay at the crease, he nicked a delivery going down the leg side off Tushar Deshpande in the fourth over and departed back to the dressing room.
Before his dismissal, Deshpande had already made a contribution, sending Priyansh Arya (9 runs off 7 balls) packing. Kwena Maphaka dismissed Mitchell Owen (0 runs off 2 balls), who failed to trouble the scorers on his IPL debut.
It seemed as if Punjab Kings were staring down the barrel. However, Wadhera, who batted at No. 4, along Iyer, who demoted himself this afternoon, likely because of a finger injury, stabilised the innings. The duo formed a 67-run partnership for the fourth wicket with Wadhera donning the role of an aggressor.
Wadhera counterattacked and the tide turned. The southpaw brought the Royals under the pump with his innings.Â
Iyer was unlike himself. He did not bat as swiftly as he does and ultimately perished in the 11th over off Riyan Parag.
Wadhera took the attack to Akash Madhwal in the 13th over that cost RR 17 runs. He brought up his fifty, his second of the season, with a four, and immediately smacked a six.
After smacking another maximum off Madhwal in the 16th over, Wadhera holed out at the deep-cover region to the pacer after scoring 70 runs, his personal best in the IPL.
Shashank Singh, Azmatullah Omarazi Finishes StrongÂ
Shashank Singh (59* runs off 30 balls) and Azmatullah Omarzai (21* runs off 9 balls) did not let the momentum drop. They ensured that Punjab finish strong. After Wadhera's dismissal, Shashank hit two fours and a six in the 17th over off Fazalhaq Farooqi, while Omarzai followed suit and blasted three boundaries, including a six in the 18th over off Maphaka.
Shashank hammered a six on the first delivery of the final over of the innings bowled by Deshpande. He competed his fifty with a double. He smashed another boundary as Punjab Kings finished at 219 runs for the loss of five wickets after 20 overs.
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