KL Rahul smashes six-studded 98* to keep Punjab Kings' dreams alive (just about)
Punjab Kings get to fifth place with the win, but getting into the final four might still be a bit beyond them
Mohammed Shami's fifth ball thudded into Ruturaj Gaikwad's gloves and discomfited him. Arshdeep Singh then targetted Gaikwad's left shoulder with a similar sharp lifter and had him miscuing a pull to midwicket for 12 off 14 balls. Moeen Ali had to contend with the short stuff as well: after Shami pushed him back, Arshdeep swung one away from the left-hander to have him nicking off in the last over of the powerplay.
Kings XI's attack subdued Ravindra Jadeja as well, keeping him to 15 off 17 balls, but Faf du Plessis got on top of them in the slog overs. After reaching 50 off 46 balls, du Plessis looked spent, but quickly jumped into top gear, walloping three fours and two sixes in his next eight balls. du Plessis also lined up Shami, who had looked unhittable in the powerplay, before the quick pounded the pitch once again and had the batter top-edging a pull for 76 off 55 balls.
Super Kings had smashed 52 off their last five overs to give their attack something to bowl at, but Punjab Kings hit nearly as many (51) in the powerplay itself to regain control. With Punjab Kings needing to win big (and needing other results go their way), Rahul went on a boundary-hitting spree from the get-go - like he used to do back in the day. He was particularly brutal on Deepak Chahar, taking him for 34 off just 12 balls. Josh Hazlewood briefly shook up Rahul when he struck him on the helmet, but the Kings captain overcame that blow and also took him to the cleaners in the powerplay.
Deivarayan Muthu is a sub-editor at ESPNcricinfo