Riyan Parag
Riyan Parag. Image Credits: Twitter

Riyan Parag has said that it was an incredible job done by his side’s bowlers to defend eight runs in the final two overs against Punjab Kings.

Rajasthan Royals all-rounder Riyan Parag hailed his side’s bowlers for putting an incredible show in the final two overs to defend eight runs against Punjab Kings to kickstart RR’s UAE campaign on a high.

Riyan Parag, PTI
Riyan Parag, PTI

Riyan Parag: Defending Eight Runs Off Last Two Overs Was Incredible

Punjab was poised for an easy win as they needed just four runs from the last over but the 20-year-old from Uttar Pradesh changed the game with his accurate bowling. Kartik Tyagi emerged as the unlikely hero as he defended 4 runs in the final over to help Rajasthan Royals snatch victory from the jaws of defeat against Punjab Kings.

“The mood is really nice, cricket is a really funny game. We were in the driving seat after the first innings but we were poor in the field, the game was slipping away.

“In the 19th over, I was at mid-off, I told Mustafizur Rahman that do not to let it finish in this over and we can have a chance in the final two overs. Defending eight runs of last two overs was incredible,” Riyan Parag said during a virtual press conference.

PBKS bowler Arshdeep Singh (Photo| ANI)
PBKS bowler Arshdeep Singh (Photo| ANI)

“This is the number one spell I have seen in all my career, but I hope Kartik does it for us in the rest of the matches as well. We had a bad day in the field, I rate myself as one of the best fielders, but in the end, I am human and I can drop a catch too,” he added.

Earlier, the 22-year-old Arshdeep Singh (5/32) complemented his senior pro-Mohammed Shami (3/21) well as the duo shared eight wickets to help Punjab bowl out Rajasthan for 185 in exactly 20 overs after they were going strong at 169 for 5 in 17 overs.

Riyan Parag: Bowlers Have Perfected The Yorker

Punjab needed just four runs in the final over to win the game but was stopped from their march towards victory by RR bowler Kartik Tyagi. Kartik Tyagi, the MoM, managed to take two crucial wickets and give away just one run in his final over spell.

“Bowlers have perfected the yorker, so the helicopter shot is a way of adding another thing in my armoury. It did not pay off well today but then I am confident, in the next match, if I get the same ball, I’ll try the same thing,” said Parag.

Kartik Tyagi defended four runs off the final over to hand RR a 2-run win | Photo: BCCI / IPL
Kartik Tyagi defended four runs off the final over to hand RR a 2-run win | Photo: BCCI / IPL

Rajasthan Royals will take on Delhi Capitals on Saturday at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi.

Rajasthan Royals 185 (Jaiswal 49, Lomror 43, Arshdeep 5-32, Shami 3-21) beat Punjab Kings 183 for 4 (Agarwal 67, Rahul 49, Tyagi 2-29, Tewatia 1-23) by two runs