TATA IPL 2024: Riyan Parag's 54 Leads Rajasthan Royals to Thrash MI by 6 Wickets
Riyan Parag showcased exceptional form with consecutive half-centuries, guiding Rajasthan Royals to a commanding six-wicket victory over Mumbai Indians in Match 14 of the 2024 Indian Premier League (IPL) at the Wankhede Stadium. Despite a match largely influenced by bowlers, Parag's composed innings stood out, his fifty coming off 38 deliveries. He concluded the game in style, hitting two sixes and a four off Gerald Coetzee, propelling Rajasthan Royals to their third win of the season and placing them at the summit of the IPL standings with six points.
Parag struck five fours and three sixes and shared a 40-run partnership for the fourth wicket with Ravichandran Ashwin as Rajasthan Royals recovered from 48/3 to reach 127/4. The victory was set up by their bowlers -- Trent Boult (3-22) and Yuzvendra Chahal (3-11) as they helped them restrict Mumbai Indians to 125/9 in 20 overs. Nandre Burger claimed 2-32 to contribute to the RR cause after skipper Sanju Samson had won the toss and elected to field first on a pitch that provided seam movement initially but eased out in the second innings.
Yashasvi Jaiswal struck the 17-year-old South African pacer Kwena Maphaka to back-to-back boundaries off the fourth and fifth deliveries of the opening over, carving it squarely on the off-over point from a full-length delivery and following it by clearing the infield on the leg-side when the pacer pitched it short. But the young South African had his revenge on the next delivery, as a full-length delivery outside off shaped away and Jaiswal lobbed it straight to Tim David at cover. Maphaka claimed his first IPL wicket in his second match after going wicketless for 66 against SRH in Hyderabad. RR were 10/1.
Skipper Sanju Samson lashed a widish delivery from Maphaka through point for a boundary and then enjoyed the same result off the next delivery, as the bowler offered more width. But Samson was out soon, castled by Akash Madhwal as he chopped onto his stumps, attempting a cut without any foot movement. And when Jos Buttler, who was troubled by Jasprit Bumrah despite being struck for a boundary, was out for 13, caught by Piyush Chawla as he pulled Akash Madhwal flat and straight to fine leg, Rajasthan Royals were in trouble at 48/3 in the 7th over.
However, a 40-run partnership off 35 balls for the fourth wicket between Riyan Parag and Ravichandran Ashwin propelled them ahead on course to victory. While Parag dropped anchor, Ashwin struck a run-a-ball 16, hitting a four as Rajasthan Royals remained on course. It was slow going as RR tried to consolidate their position. Madhwal got Ashwin for his third wicket, with a short one outside off and Ashwin attempted to turn it to leg and edged it to Tilak Varma.
Parag sent Gerald Coetzee's delivery racing to the boundary, and on the very next ball, he repeated the feat with another boundary. He continued to keep Rajasthan Royals' chances alive by hitting boundaries off Coetzee and Bumrah, guiding them to 100/4 by the 14th over. With 25 runs needed off 36 balls, Parag smashed Piyush Chawla over cow corner for his first six. In the subsequent over, he skillfully carved Coetzee over cover for another six and then executed a powerful pull shot over midwicket, achieving his second consecutive half-century in style.
Parag secured the win for Rajasthan Royals with a fortuitous top-edge off a short delivery from Coetzee, as the ball flew over the keeper's head and reached the boundary. Parag, remaining unbeaten on 54, played a crucial role in guiding Rajasthan Royals to their third consecutive victory. With this triumph, they joined KKR as the only teams to win an away match in IPL 2024.
