Rajasthan Royals (RR) won the 50th match of the 13th season of IPL. Rajasthan defeated Kings XI Punjab (KXIP) by 7 wickets in Abu Dhabi on Friday in a 'do or die' match. The Royals scored 186 runs in 17.3 overs losing 3 wickets and achieved the target of victory.

Punjab had to face this defeat after 5 consecutive wins. Rajasthan's victory was contributed by the excellent batting of Ben Stokes (50 runs), Sanju Samson (48 runs), captain Steve Smith (31 not out) and Jose Butler (22 not out).

Chasing a target of 186 runs, Punjab's team got the first blow on the score of 60 runs, when Chris Jordan was returned by Ben Stokes (50), followed by Robin Uthappa (30) for 111. Murugan Ashwin got that wicket.

On the score of 145 runs, Rajasthan got the third blow. Sanju Samson (48) was run out. After this, captain Steve Smith and Jose Butler took the front and gave the team a great win.

66 for 1 in Power Play

The Royals scored 66 for one wicket in the power play. Sanju Samson appeared in rhythm He hit Arshdeep for six after hitting a four on Jordan. Samson completed the hundred of the team's runs in the 10th over with a six over Ravi Bishnoi. Uthappa also showed his second six over Ashwin, but caught by Pooran on the boundary in an attempt to play a big shot on the next ball. He hit two sixes and a four while facing 23 balls.

Smith and Buttler lead to victory

Samson also returned to the pavilion after being a victim of the exact target of substitute J Suchit in an attempt to take a quick run. He hit 4 fours and 3 sixes facing 25 balls. The Royals needed 40 runs to win in the final five overs. Buttler reduced the pressure on Jordan with a six, while Smith hit three fours in Shami's over. Butler hit a six over Jordan and then this fast bowler threw a wide ball and put the victory in the Royals' bag.

Kings XI Punjab scored 185/4

Aggressive batsman Chris Gayle missed a century by one run, but with the century partnership of him and captain KL Rahul, Kings XI Punjab (KXIP) scored 185/4.

Gayle took advantage of two lives and shared a 99-run stand with 63 sixes and 6 fours in 63 balls, besides sharing 120 runs for the second wicket with Rahul (46). Nicholas Pooran played a useful innings of 22 runs in 10 balls.

Joffra Archer and Ben Stokes took 2-2 wickets for the Royals, giving away 26 and 32 runs respectively. Karthik Tyagi and Varun Aaron proved to be quite expensive. Both scored 47–47 runs in 4 overs.

Royals captain Steve Smith decided to bowl first after winning the toss, after which Jofra Archer caught Mandeep Singh (0) in the first over by Ben Stokes to give the team a great start.