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In the 50th match of the IPL 2020, Rajasthan Royals (RR) claimed their crucial victory as they stopped the winning-streak of Kings XI Punjab (KXIP) after beating them at Sheikh Zayed Cricket Stadium (Abu Dhabi).

Rajasthan Royals captain Steven Smith decided to field first after winning the toss. Chris Gayle’s storm helped KXIP to score 185/4 (20 overs) at the end of the first innings. However, Rajasthan Royals chased down that target in 17.3 overs after losing three wickets.

IPL 2020, Match 50: Kings XI Punjab vs Rajasthan Royals (KXIP vs RR) – Highlights

Rajasthan Royals (RR) innings

Rajasthan Royals openers Ben Stokes and Robin Uthappa provided the firing start with 60 runs partnership inside the mandatory powerplay. Stokes dominated that powerplay as he completed his fifty in just 24 balls and Chris Jordan dismissed him in the 6th over of that innings when the English cricketer scored 50 off 26 balls (6 fours and 3 sixes).

Ben Stokes, KXIP, Rajasthan Royals, KXIP vs RR, highlights, Twitter Reactions — Ben Stokes (Image Credit: IPL)

Then Uthappa and Sanju Samson built up the 51 runs partnership for the second wicket. In the 11th over, Murugan Ashwin took the wicket of opener Uthappa who scored 30 off 23 balls (only four and 2 sixes).

In the crucial 15th over of that innings, KXIP got an important wicket as substitute Suchith’s direct throw run-out the dangerous-looking batsman Samson, who scored 48 off 25 balls (4 fours and 3 sixes).

But captain Steven Smith and Jos Buttler controlled the next situation very well and comfortably guided the team to the victory by successfully reaching the target. While Smith scored 31 not out off 20 balls (5 fours), Jos Buttler scored 22 not out off 11 balls (only four and 2 sixes).

Scorecard:

Kings XI Punjab (KXIP) innings

In the very first over of the match, Jofra Archer dismissed opener Mandeep Singh for a golden duck. However, another opener and skipper KL Rahul and Chris Gayle handled that early situation very well and built up the 120 runs partnership for the second wicket.

Also Read: IPL 2020 – Most Run-Scorers (Orange Cap)

During that second-wicket partnership, Gayle completed his fifty in 33 balls. While Gayle got two crucial lives in that innings, he fully utilised those opportunities.

KXIP, Rajasthan Royals, KXIP vs RR, highlights, Twitter Reactions — Chris Gayle (Image Credit: IPL)

In the 15th over, Ben Stokes broke that big partnership after dismissing Rahul for 46 runs off 41 balls (3 fours and 2 sixes). But Gayle was not in the mood to stop.

Nicholas Pooran scored 22 runs off just 10 balls (3 sixes) as Stokes took that wicket too in the 18th over after Rahul Tewatia grabbed a brilliant catch at boundary. In the 19th over, Gayle completed his 1000 T20 sixes. Gayle just missed his century for only one run as Archer bowled him in the last over of that innings while Gayle scored 99 runs off 63 balls (6 fours and 8 sixes).