Dream11 IPL 2020 
8th Match: Kings XI Punjab (KKIP) Vs Rajasthan Royals. (RR) Played at Sarjah, UAE on 27 September 2020 
RR 226 /6 In 19.4 Overs (SV Samson 85, R Tewatia 53, SPD Smith 50) Beat KKIP 223/2 (MA Agarwal 106, KL Rahul 69, N Puran 23*) by 4 Wickets 
Player of The Match: Sanju Samson 

In a high scoring melodrama, which may consider as high stake gambling Rajasthan Royals got the better off Kings XI Punjab. Chasing a steep target of 224 RR won by 4 wickets scoring 226/6 with 2 balls to spare. The way the match has been played it wont be wrong guessing that the players on the fielding acted to the script written and produced elsewhere.  Put into bat KKIP put up an impressive 224/4 mainly due to a very entertaining first wicket partnership of 183 between Agarwal (106) and Rahul (69) at almost 12 runs per over. 

At innings break everyone thought that it may turn out as cake walk for KKIP. The thoughts got stronger when Buttler of RR got out very early. But then Smith and Samson set up a punishing 81 runs partnership with Smith (50) dominating. Samson (85) and Tewatia (53) put the icing on the cake. RR won the match with Tewatia and Samson each torpedoing 7 sixes in the respective innings. RR raced to 226/6 in 19.4 overs. A fairy tale wins by 4 wickets. A total of 29 sixes were scored in the run feast which even could be imagined by any Bollywood blockbuster thriller. May be the match was an entertainment for viewers but perhaps the spirit of cricket was compromised. This win off course put RR in a comfortable position. While such a high scoring match could not harm the victors also that much. RR and KKIP are still among the top 3 in the table with DC leading the pack. 

There was nothing much to report other than bat dominating the ball on the easy paced batting paradise and smaller boundaries. Agarwal and Rahul were prolific in their milestone setting opening partnership. His 106 in only 50 deliveries contained as many as 10 fours and 7 sixes. Rahul was relatively less aggressive in this innings of 69 off 54 deliveries. The West Indian blaster Nicholas Puran raced to unbeaten 25 in only 8 deliveries. 223/2 at innings break appeared enough for a KKIP win. 

But as mentioned above IPL matches people suspect is played on the table rather on the field. With a bowling attack featuring Sami, Cottrell and Bishnoi there were no reasons why KKIP could not plan for defending such a huge score. English blaster Buttler was gone earlier. Then Rahul and Smith plundered 81 runs in only 6 overs. Smith played a scorching innings of 50 in 27 deliveries. Samson went on scoring 85 in 42 striking 4 fours and 7 towering sixes. But the killer punch was served by little known Tewatia scoring 53 in 31 hijacking the match from KKIP. RR won the thriller as the unseen directors scripted. Such matches are always bookies delight. 

BDST: 1135 HRS, SEP 28, 2020
SMS