IPL: Sunrisers stun Royals in high-scoring thriller

Just when Rajasthan Royals thought they had collected two points by defending 214 and had started to celebrate, their last-ball wicket transformed into a no-ball from Sandeep Sharma (called belatedly by the third umpire), and Abdul Samad smoked a straight six off the free hit to get Sunrisers Hyderabad the four more runs they needed, sparking wild celebrations in the orange camp while the players and home fans in pink were left stunned.

Royals were well ahead of Sunrisers almost throughout the chase, with the asking rate rising and wickets falling regularly towards the end. Sunrisers, however, kept fighting back with big hits.

The biggest turnaround came when they needed 41 from 12 and Glenn Phillips, in for Harry Brook, blasted three sixes and a four to reduce it to 19 off eight. The chase turned again when he fell on the next ball, and they needed 17 to win from the last over with Samad on strike.

Samad was nearly caught twice in two balls, first dropped by Obed McCoy at short third resulting in two runs and then hitting a six just over Joe Root’s fingertips at long-on.

Sandeep’s near-yorkers conceded just four off the next three and with five to win off the last ball, Samad found long-on while attempting another straight six, and Sandeep lifted his finger in celebration.

But those smiles soon disappeared because Sandeep had overstepped and when he re-bowled the last ball – another attempted yorker, the length off by a few inches – Samad completed Sunrisers’ heist with a successful straight six right over the bowler’s head.

Royals will rue the two dropped catches and a run-out chance in between which meant Jos Buttler‘s scintillating return to form with a 95 off 59 and Sanju Samson‘s unbeaten 66 off 38 went in vain.

Despite their third loss in a row and fifth loss in six games, Royals are still in fourth position on the table, but RCB, Mumbai Indians and Punjab Kings are level with them on 10 points and all have a game in hand.

Sunrisers lifted themselves off the bottom and pushed Delhi Capitals back to the last spot. (ESPNcricinfo)