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Patna : Rajasthan Royals (RR) beat Kings XI Punjab (KXIP) by 4 wickets in the 9th match of IPL 2020 at Sharjah Cricket Stadium, Sharjah, on September 27, 2020, night, snatching an incredible victory from the jaws of defeat. Rahul Tewatia emerged a hero for RR scoring 53 in 31 balls hitting 7 sixes including four consecutive ones in fast bowler Sheldon Cottrell’s third over. In fact, Tewatia hit Cottrell for five sixes in that over ( 18th over of the match). RR had won toss and opted to bowl. Sanju Samson (RR) was declared Payer Of The Match.
Tewatia’s teammate Sanju Samson too scored 85 in 42 balls hitting 7 sixes and 4 fours in a masterclass knock while captain Steven Smith scored 50 in 27 balls with 7 fours and 2 sixes. Samson and Smith added 81 runs for the 2nd wicket. Jofra Archer remained unbeaten on 13 in balls hitting two sixes. To Curran hit the winning four.
Replying to KXIP’s 223/2 in 20 overs, RR scored 226/6 in 19.3 overs even as opener Joss Buttler fell to Cottrell for 4 making it 19/1. Incidentally, Tewatia had scored only 8 runs of the first 19 balls he faced. RR scored 86 runs in last 5 overs.
Batting first, KXIP openers Lokesh Rahul and Mayank Agarwal added 183 runs in 16.3 overs for the first wicket. Agarwal fell to Tom Curran for 106 in only 50 balls hitting 7 sixes and 10 fours becoming the second batsman to hit ton in IPL 2020, both from KXIP. Rahul had scored century in the previous match against RCB. Agarwal compled his century in 45 balls. Rahul fell to Ankit Rajpoot for 69 in 54 balls with 7 fours and a six. Nicholas Pooran remained unbeaten on 25 in 8 balls hitting 3 sixes and a four. Glenn Maxwell remained on 13 as KXIP scored 223/2.