Losing close matches has become a pattern for us: PBKS coach Anil Kumble

PBKS vs RR | What Experts Said after Kartik Tyagi bowls 'unbelievable' final over to steal win for RR

Rajasthan Royals fast bowler Kartik Tyagi showed great composure in the last over of the innings against Punjab Kings in Dubai on Tuesday night after he stole away a win from the jaws of defeat for his side. The right-arm bowler defended 4 runs in the final over and also picked up a couple of wickets during the course that included the scalp Nicholas Pooran who had looked good throughout the innings. Chasing 186 in 20 overs, the Punjab Kings were off to a flying start after captain KL Rahul and his opening partner Mayank Agarwal put up 120 runs on the board before Rahul departed for 49 off 33 in the 12the over. Agarwal, however, continued with his good form and notched up a half-century before he was undone for a 43-ball 57 by Rahul Tewatia after getting caught by Liam Livingstone. The Punjab then had debutant Aiden Markram and Pooran in the middle and the two batters compiled a partnership of 57 runs. Pooran was dismissed for 32 off 22 by Tyagi after he was caught behind by Sanju Samson in the last over and then followed it with another wicket of Deepak Hooda who didn’t trouble the scorers and was sent back for a two-ball duck. Tyagi eventually returned with figures of 2/29 in 4 overs as RR won the match by 2 runs. Earlier, the Rajasthan Royals were cruising to a big total before Arshdeep and Mohammed Shami put a halt on their scoring rate and pulled back the things in the death overs. While Arshdeep scalped a five-wicket haul, Shami on the other side, picked up three wickets as RR were bundled out for 185 in 20 overs. Yashasvi Jaiswal top-scored for the Royals with 49 off 36 while Mahipal Lomror hammered 43 in just 17 deliveries that included four maximums. The win in this match has provided RR with two crucial points and they have now won four matches out of the eight that they have played. Punjab suffered their sixth defeat in the nine matches that they have featured in. Punjab captain KL Rahul expressed his disappointment at the defeat and admitted that the side needs to handle pressure situations in a better way. “It's a tough one to swallow. We have been a team that has experienced games like these before. We need to see how we can handle pressure better,” he said in the post-match presentation. RR skipper Sanju Samson put his weight behind the bowling unit and said that he trusts his bowlers. “Cricket is a funny game right. We just kept fighting and believing. I always believe in my bowlers, want to keep fighting and that's why I kept those two overs till the end,” he said. Experts Opinion Commentator Harsha Bhogle lavished praise on Kartik Tyagi and the way he defended four runs in the last over. “An over for the ages from Kartik Tyagi! Defends 4 after the Fizz had delivered a 4 run over. Incredible finish. How could Punjab Kings mess this up!” He tweeted. Former India batsman Aakash Chopra pointed out that despite getting a perfect start, Punjab Kings lost their way. “It’s not often that you have a 120 run opening partnership. Lose only 4 wickets. Fielding team drops 4 catches. And you still lose the game by 2 runs in a chase. It ain’t over till,” he tweeted. India fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah hailed Tyagi for maintaining his cool under a pressure situation. “What an over, Kartik Tyagi! To maintain a cool head under that kind of pressure and to get the job done, great stuff, very impressive!” Bumrah wrote on Twitter. Former India player Irfan Pathan lauded the youngster for the way he handled pressure in the last over and anchored his side to an important win. “Karthik Tyagi you beauty,” Irfan tweeted. Spinner Harbhajan Singh praised for bowling an “unbelievable” last over to win the match for his side. “What a game… unbelievable last over by #Kartiktyagi He won it for Rajasthan Royals. IPL cricket at its best,” Harbhajan wrote on Twitter. RR will now face Delhi Capitals in Abu Dhabi while Punjab Kings will be up against SRH in Sharjah on Saturday in their next respective games.

IPL 2021 | Ricky Ponting looks back on Rishabh Pant's emergence, predicts long future with India

Delhi Capitals coach Ricky Ponting heaped praises on captain Rishabh Pant ahead of their clash against the Sunrisers Hyderabad scheduled on 22 September, Wednesday. With Shreyas Iyer injuring his shoulder early in the air against England, Pant was awarded the captaincy hat in the current edition of the Indian Premier League and under his leadership, the Capitals finished at the top of the table in the first leg of the Indian Premier League. Ponting spoke highly of the youngster and stated that it will be very tough for anyone to knock him off the current Indian team. “Rishabh’s level of maturity in the last two seasons has gone through the roof,” Ponting told The Cricketer. “When I first came in, he just burst on to the scene. I had said we are going to see the unearthing of someone who is going to play for India for a long time. I could see that coming. I could see how much he wanted to be in every Indian team,” he further added. The legendary Australian also spoke on Delhi’s combination, now that Iyer is once again back into the scheme of things and stated that his inclusion does not disturb the balance of the team. “I am delighted to have him back in the team. He has been an exceptional player for Delhi, a world-class player. It does make our team look a little more complete.” Delhi are in the hunt for their first IPL trophy. They missed out narrowly in the last edition after being beaten by Mumbai Indians in the final game under the captaincy of Shreyas Iyer. Delhi Capitals have a packed team with the likes of Shimron Hetmyer, Marcus Stoinis, Kagiso Rabada and Anrich Nortje in their side. They will further be aided by the services of Steve Smith, Ravichandran Ashwin and Shikhar Dhawan, stars who have changed the complexion of world cricket in the last decade.

British High Commissioner to Pakistan expresses 'deep sadness' over England calling off tour

The clamours of the cricket fans in Pakistan and the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) have reached the highest level in the United Kingdom government as the British High Commissioner to Pakistan Christian Turner has expressed a video message to issue clarification and express “deep sadness”. He also confirmed that the high commission in Islamabad did not alert the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) of any security threat in the country and neither did it change travel advisory for Pakistan. He added that the ECB decided to call off the tour to ensure “players’ welfare”. He promised to double down on his efforts to ensure England’s next scheduled tour of Pakistan next year. Notably, the ECB had called off the tour yesterday citing “anxiousness” that could well arise in players’ minds before an all-important T20 World Cup next month.

IPL 2021 | PBKS vs RR: Arshdeep picks five as Punjab make late comeback

Punjab Kings fast bowler Arshdeep Singh was on song against Rajasthan Royals Dubai after the left-arm pacer bagged a five-wicket haul as the KL Rahul-led side pulled the things back in their favour in the death overs in a brilliant manner. RR were 164/4 at one stage and were cruising towards a big total but some fine piece of bowling from Mohammed Shami and Arshdeep in the end put a halt at the scoring-rate. Arshdeep’s scalps included the wickets of opener Evin Lewis, Liam Livingstone, Mahipal Lomror, Chetan Sakariya and Kartik Tyagi. Batting first, RR managed to put 185 in 20 overs after witnessing a major batting collapse. Opener Yashasvi Jaiswal top-scored for the Royals with a 36-ball 49 while Lewis was dismissed for 36 off 21, courtesy a good catch from Mayank Agarwal. Livingstone who was making his debut for the Punjab Kings chipped in with 25 off 17 before he was sent back in the hut after Fabian Allen grabbed a stunner in the deep. Later, Lomror took the onus on himself and hammered the spinners for four maximums during the course of his 17-ball 43. But the left-hander’s wicket saw a flurry of wickets at a quick succession and RR were eventually bundled out. Arshdeep returned with figures of 5/32 in 4 overs and became the second youngest Indian bowler to pick up a five-wicket haul in the IPL. Left-arm pacer Jaydev Unadkat has the record to his name who was 21 when he took 5/21 in 2013 against the then known Delhi Daredevils. Mohammed Shami also returned with some impressive figures after he picked up three wickets at the cost of 21 runs in 4 overs. Punjab Kings have only won three out of the eight matches that they have played so far in the competition while RR have three wins to their name in seven fixtures.