Yashasvi Jaiswal scored a fifty on return © BCCI
Rajasthan Royals denied Punjab Kings two crucial points and returned to winning ways with a six-wicket win in a big chase of 190. Yashasvi Jaiswal anchored the chase with a fifty on return to take RR to 14 points from 11 games. RR's win also meant the Mumbai Indians are officially knocked out of the tournament.

The start - The highest powerplay total for RR

RR made the most of the powerplay overs. Jos Buttler continued to do what he's been doing all season - taking the attack to the opposition. He didn't spare the most economical bowler in the powerplay this season - Sandeep Sharma - in the opening over, hitting him for two fours and a six to get the chase going. In the fourth over, Buttler belted Kagiso Rabada for 6, 4, 4, 2 and 4 before the batsman played one too many risky shots, trying to scoop a very full wide delivery. Sanju Samson then straightaway got going as they ended the powerplay at 67/1 - their highest of the season.

How good was Yashasvi though?

Jaiswal was dropped earlier in the season after just three games after failing to get any substantial scores. He replaced Karun Nair against PBKS, and opened the batting with Buttler in a big chase. He had a point to prove on his return to the side, and did so vehemently with a very composed 40-ball 68, keeping the boundaries coming and holding his end until he fell in the 15th over. Samson wasted another good start, but Devdutt Padikkal joined hands with Jaiswal to stitch a 56-run stand. Padikkal played second fiddle to Jaiswal, who hit some exquisite shots on the offside. He struck 9 fours and 2 sixes in his knock that was crucial in a big chase.

Hetmyer stood up once again

It was anyone's game when Jaiswal departed. Padikkal was unable to get going, at 16 off 17 balls when he was joined by Hetmyer in the middle. With 47 runs needed from 30 balls with 24 of those to be bowled by Arshdeep and Rabada. Hetmyer, however, took on Arshdeep's 17th over to tweak the equation with still 28 needed in 3 overs. Padikkal then cleared the infield for two fours off Rabada's 18th and Hetmyer dispatched a full toss down leg for six easing it out for RR with 11 needed in the last 2 overs. Padikkal was caught, but Hetmyer levelled the scores early in the final over with a six at wide long on and eventually took his side home. He remained unbeaten on 31 off 16 balls.

Bairstow finally comes good...

Earlier, Punjab Kings opened with Jonny Bairstow and Shikhar Dhawan once again. It was a move that paid off this time as Bairstow attacked the Rajasthan bowlers after a slow start. Trent Boult bowled an excellent maiden in his second over, but was taken for 18 runs in his third by the opening pair. Anything drifting towards leg, Bairstow punished, with Dhawan taking his time to get going at the other end. After a 47-run opening stand, RR scalped Dhawan in the final over of the powerplay to Ashwin. It wasn't really the match-up, but all Jos Buttler, who pulled off a one-handed screamer at mid-on, timing his jump to perfection to hold on to the catch in the final over of the powerplay.

Wily Chahal pulls things back

Chahal then returned to the attack and beat Bhanuka Rajapaksa in flight, who was looking to attack the spinners, ending the 42-run stand that came in 31 balls. Bairstow at the other end was looking in good touch and got to his first fifty of the season off 34 balls. Mayank Agarwal and Bairstow kept PBKS afloat, but not very convincingly. Chahal then picked up both Bairstow and Mayank in his third over and Punjab, who also had seemed to have been holding back Liam Livingstone until Chahal finished his spell, were not left with a choice. Chahal, however, finished with 3-28.

Did Liam Livingstone have enough time in the middle?

Eyebrows were raised when Jitesh was sent ahead of Livingstone, but he justified the move with an unbeaten 38 off just 18 balls as PBKS scored as many as 67 runs in the final five overs. Livingstone and Jitesh went after RR's bowlers from the onset in their 26-ball association where they scored 50 runs. Livingstone managed to hit two sixes and a four in his 14-ball stay for 22, but Jitesh struck at 211.11. While RR's spinners only conceded 60 runs in their eight overs combined for 4 wickets, the seamers conceded 126/1 in 12 overs.

Brief scores: Punjab Kings 189/5 in 20 overs (Jonny Bairstow 56, Jitesh Sharma 38*; Yuzvendra Chahal 3-28) lost to Rajasthan Royals 190/4 in 19.4 overs (Yashasvi Jaiswal 68, Jos Buttler 30, Devdutt Padikkal 31, Shimron Hetmyer 31; Arshdeep Singh 2-29) by 6 wickets.