Punjab Kings dashed Rajasthan Royals' hopes of securing the top spot in the IPL 2024 points table by clinching a thrilling 5-wicket victory in Guwahati. Chasing a target of 145 set by Rajasthan, Punjab achieved the score in 18.5 overs with 5 wickets remaining. Punjab Kings captain Sam Curran shone with both bat and ball, playing a crucial role in the win. Despite other batsmen struggling, Curran scored 63 off 41 balls to guide his team to victory.
In Rajasthan's bowling, Avesh Khan and Chahal took two wickets each, while Trent Boult grabbed one. Earlier, Rajasthan Royals, after winning the toss and opting to bat, managed only 144 runs for 9 wickets in their 20 overs. Riyan Parag top-scored with 48 off 34 balls. For Punjab, Sam Curran, Harshal Patel, and Rahul Chahar each claimed two wickets, with Arshdeep Singh and Nathan Ellis taking one wicket each. One wicket came as a run-out.
This defeat marked Rajasthan Royals' fourth consecutive loss. Having already secured a playoff spot, the team missed the chance to top the table. If they had won their remaining two matches, they would have ended with 20 points as table toppers. However, losing to Punjab leaves them with a maximum of 18 points, unable to surpass Kolkata Knight Riders' 19 points. Meanwhile, Punjab Kings, already out of playoff contention, moved from 10th to 9th place with this win.
