A 105-run partnership for the third wicket in just 46 balls between skipper K.L. Rahul and Deepak Hooda helped Punjab Kings post 221/6 in their 20 overs against Rajasthan Royals here at the Wankhede Stadium on Monday.
Punjab Kings, who lost opener Mayank Agarwal early, saw Rahul and Chris Gayle add 67 for the second wicket with the West Indian batsman being the dominant partner as he gave his side the initiative.
Gayle's 28-ball 40 comprised two sixes and four fours as he became the first batsman to hit 350 sixes in the history of Indian Premier League.
Gayle's dismissal off Riyan Parag would have given hope to the Rajasthan franchise but then Hooda and Rahul pounded sixes.
Overs 13 and 14 bowled by Shivam Dube and Shreyas Gopal went for 20 each and saw six sixes, five of those coming of Hooda's bat.
Hooda also equalled Hardik Pandya and Virender Sehwag in list of players who have hit fastest fifties against Royals in the IPL. David Miller, who had smashed a 19-ball in 2014, is first on the list.
Fastest fifties v RR in IPL:
- 19 balls: David Miller, 2014
- 20 balls : Virender Sehwag, 2012
- 20 balls: Hardik Pandya, 2020
- 20 balls: Deepak Hooda, 2021
From 110/2 after 12 overs, Punjab Kings moved to 150/2 after 14 overs.
The hammering didn't end there. After a couple of overs that went for 11 each, Punjab Kings took 15 off Chetan Sakariya, who had got the early wicket of Mayank Agarwal.
Even in the 18th over, when Rajasthan Royals got rid of Hooda and Nicholas Pooran, the Punjab franchise managed to get 14 runs. Then came 15 off Mustafizur Rahman's fourth over, the innings' 19th.
Young Saurashtra left-arm pacer Sakariya got two wickets in his last over and conceded just five runs to finish as the most successful Rajasthan Royals bowler with three wickets for 31 runs in his four overs.
Brief scores: Punjab Kings 221/6 in 20 overs (K.L. Rahul 91, C Gayle 40, D Hooda 64, C Sakariya 3/31, C Morris 2/40) vs Rajasthan Royals.
(With IANS Inputs)
