It was not a night for the bowlers in Mumbai where two Australians made their IPL debuts
Match Report:
ScorecardPunjab edge Rajasthan in IPL run-fest
Sanju Samson struck a blistering century in his first match as Rajasthan Royals captain but he couldn't stop Punjab Kings from recording a four-run victory in a high-scoring Indian Premier League thriller.
Samson, who was named captain before the start of the season, struck 119 off just 63 balls but was dismissed off the final delivery of the innings with his side five runs short of the target.
"I don't have words. It was very close ... I don't think I could have done anything more," Samson said after the match at the Wankhede Stadium on Monday.
"I timed it well, but unfortunately couldn't clear the man in the deep.
"It's all part of the game. We thought the wicket was getting better and we could chase the target down. Despite the loss, I think the team played really well."
Image Id: 645112ED07104E26A7F69371C4BE33BA Image Caption: Richardson with the big wicket of Jos Buttler // BCCI/Sportzpics
Earlier, Punjab posted a mammoth 221-6 thanks to quickfire half-centuries from captain KL Rahul (91) and all-rounder Deepak Hooda (64).
Rajasthan's chase got off to a poor start, losing England all-rounder Ben Stokes and Manan Vohra early, before Samson turned the game on its head after being dropped on 12.
He struck 12 boundaries and seven sixes to register the first century of this season's IPL.
But needing five off the final two deliveries, Samson turned down a single off the penultimate ball before holing out to deep extra cover off the bowling of Arshdeep Singh as Rajasthan fell agonisingly short.
Image Id: F7C9F23EA2834E2886A0144C890388A9 Image Caption: Meredith in his maiden IPL match // BCCI/Sportzpics
The match was the first time Australians Jhye Richardson and Riley Meredith featured in the IPL after going for big money in the pre-tournament player auction.
Richardson was bought for A$2.48 million while Meredith was picked up for A$1.42 million.
The pair were expensive in their debut outing, as was every bowler on the night, with Richardson taking 1-55 from four overs and the Tasmanian 1-49 from four.
Meredith was welcomed to the IPL by Jos Buttler, who hit the right-armer's first four balls to the boundary.
Richardson avenged Meredith three overs later, bowling Buttler with a brilliant slower ball that yorked the Englishman.