Shikhar Dhawan Enters Elite Club, Becomes 2nd Indian After Virat Kohli To Achieve This Feat | Cricket News

Young Prabhsimran Singh (60) and veteran skipper Shikhar Dhawan (86 not out) pummelled the Rajasthan Royals assault to propel Punjab Kings to a difficult 197 for 4 within the IPL, in Guwahati on Wednesday Prabhsimran, who hit seven fours and three sixes, mercilessly punished the Rajasthan bowlers through the first 10 overs to convey up his IPL maiden fifty off 28 balls as Punjab was off to a rollicking begin. He and Dhawan added 90 runs for the opening stand off simply 61 balls. On the opposite hand, Dhawan, switched gears effortlessly as he was 30 off 30 balls at one stage taking part in second fiddle to Prabhsimran. Once his opening associate was dismissed, Dhawan upped the ante as he scored 56 off subsequent 26 balls that he confronted.

The Punjab Kings skipper was dropped on 50 and made most of his reprieve as he performed the function of sheet anchor, guaranteeing his workforce had sufficient runs on the board with dew setting in. His inning was studded with 9 fours and three maximums that got here within the second half. With the innings, Dhawan joined an elite membership as he turned solely the third batter after David Warner (60) and Virat Kohli (50) to attain 50 fifty-plus scores within the IPL.

Prabhsimran began by smacking Trent Boult for lacerating drive within the first over, making his intentions clear. He adopted that up by slapping a six over backward sq. off KM Asif within the second over. Dhawan joined the occasion briefly with back-to-back fours within the subsequent over.

But the younger opener was brutal on Asif, whom he hammered for 3 fours and a six within the fourth over. He additionally did not spare Boult and Ravichandran Ashwin.

The 22-year-old first smacked a size ball over mid off earlier than chopping one behind level for a second boundary. He adopted that up with a short-arm pull over the midwicket area for a most.

The introduction of spin did not trouble Prabhsimran both as he continued his boundary hitting spree, hitting Ashwin to 2 consecutive fours as Punjab raced to 63/0 within the Powerplay.

With a half-century in his kitty, Prabhsimran welcomed again Boult for his second spell with a flat-batted six down the bottom.

His fabulous innings got here to an finish, courtsey Jason Holder and Jos Buttler, who took a sensational catch, diving ahead from lengthy on.

Punjab had been handed one other blow as Dhawan’s highly effective drive hit the big-hitting Bhanuka Rajapaksa in his proper arm, forcing the Sri Lankan to retire damage on 1.

A spectator for many a part of Prabhsimran’s innings, Dhawan upped the ante as he performed some well-timed pictures to get to his half century in 36 balls.

Jitesh Sharma showcased his batting proweress in his 15-ball 27 that included in 89m monstrous six off Boult.

Spinners Ashwin and Yuzvendra Chahal had been capable of stem the run circulate momentarily as they picked the wickets of Jitesh and Sikandra Raza in fast succession.

Holder (2/29) then took a wicket and conceded simply seven runs to limit Punjab beneath the 200-run mark.