Rishi Dhawan's 50 Fires Indian Royals to Victory
Indian Royals have won by 2 wickets. Pakistan Panthers batted first and posted 167/6 in 20 overs. Indian Royals chased down 168 in just 17.3 overs.
Imran Nazir was the standout in the first innings, scoring 47 off 29 balls (SR 162). 3 sixes and 6 fours provided the impetus. The powerplay yielded 44 runs — early wickets put them under pressure from the start.
In the chase, Rishi Dhawan anchored the innings with 50 off 32 balls. It was a measured knock that kept Indian Royals on track despite losing wickets around him.
With the ball, Mohammad Irfan delivered figures of 2/19 in 3 overs (Econ 6.3). A tidy spell that kept the pressure on throughout.
PP lead the series 5-0. The pressure is firmly on the chasing side now.
The Turning Point
Over 9 of the first innings was the inflection point — 15 runs came off it, shifting the momentum and setting the stage for a total that ultimately proved too much.
Key Performers
50 off 32 balls (SR 156), 5 fours, 2 sixes
2/19 in 3 overs (Econ: 6.33)
47 off 29 balls (SR 162), 6 fours, 3 sixes
Verdict
Indian Royals showed composure when it mattered most and deserve this victory. Pakistan Panthers came up short by 2 wickets. There were passages where they looked competitive, but consistency eluded them when it mattered. PP lead the series 5-0. The pressure is firmly on the chasing side now.