Defending eight runs off last two overs was incredible: RR all-rounder Riyan Parag

Rajasthan Royals all-rounder Riyan Parag hailed his team’s bowlers for putting on an incredible show in the last two overs to defend eight rounds against the Punjab Kings to launch the UAE RR campaign on a high.

Punjab were poised for an easy win as they needed just four runs from the last over but the 20-year-old from Uttar Pradesh changed the game with his accurate bowling. Kartik Tyagi emerged as the hero as he defended 4 runs in the final over to help Rajasthan Royals snatch victory from the jaws of defeat against Punjab King.

“The mood is really nice, cricket is a really funny game. We were in the driving seat after the first innings but we were poor in the field, the game was slipping away. In the 19th over, I was at mid-off, I told Mustafizur Rahman that do not to let it finish in this over and we can have a chance in the final two overs. Defending eight runs of last two overs was incredible,” Parag said during a virtual press conference.

“This is the number one spell I have seen in all my career, but I hope Kartik does it for us in the rest of the matches as well. We had a bad day in the field, I rate myself as one of the best fielders, but in the end, I am human and I can drop a catch too,” he added.

Earlier, the 22-year-old Arshdeep Singh (5/32) complemented his senior pro-Mohammed Shami (3/21) well as the duo shared eight wickets to help Punjab bowl out Rajasthan for 185 in exactly 20 overs after they were going strong at 169 for 5 in 17 overs.

“Bowlers have perfected the yorker, so the helicopter shot is a way of adding another thing in my armoury. It did not pay off well today but then I am confident, in the next match, if I get the same ball, I’ll try the same thing,” said Parag.

Rajasthan Royals will take on Delhi Capitals on Saturday at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi.