IPL 2021: Sanju Samson's century on captaincy debut in vain as Punjab Kings defeat Rajasthan Royals

KL Rahul's Punjab prevail by four runs despite Samson's belligerent 119

Rajasthan Royals captain Sanju Samson scored a century but got out off the last ball of the match against Punjab Kings in their IPL match at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on Monday, April 12, 2021. Sportzpics for IPL

Sanju Samson scored a fine century but Rajasthan Royals lost to Punjab Kings by four runs in Mumbai. Sportzpics for IPL

Sanju Samson got out with Rajasthan needing five runs off the last ball against Punjab Kings at the Wankhede Stadium. Sportzpics for IPL

Riyan Parag hit a quick 25 for Rajasthan Royals against Punjab Kings. Sportzpics for IPL

KL Rahul takes the catch of Ben Stokes of Rajasthan Royals. Sportzpics for IPL

Punjab Kings captain KL Rahul hit 91 off 50 balls against Rajasthan Royals on Monday. Sportzpics for IPL

Chris Gayle smashed 40 off 28 balls for Punjab Kings. Sportzpics for IPL

Deepak Hooda scored 64 from just 28 balls. Sportzpics for IPL

Chetan Sakariya of Rajasthan Royals picked up 3-31. Sportzpics for IPL

Sanju Samson marked his first game as Rajasthan Royals captain by smashing a century and coming close to pulling off an unlikely victory over Punjab Kings in the IPL on Monday.

Instead, it was KL Rahul's Punjab who held their nerves to win by four runs, with seamer Arshdeep Singh dismissing Samson (119 from 63 balls) off the last ball of the match with five needed for victory. He hit 12 fours and seven sixes during his innings.

Punjab’s total of 221-6 never looked enough, especially after Samson twice got dropped before completing his half century and then successfully overturned an lbw decision against him soon after crossing the 50-run mark.

“The second part of my innings was my best IPL performance,” Samson said. “I really enjoy my shots … the sixes come out naturally, and in that process I tend to lose my wickets also.”

Needing 13 off left-arm fast bowler Singh’s last over, Samson brought down the target to five off two balls with a six. But Singh kept his cool to finish with impressive figures of 3-45 as Rajasthan ended up at 217-7.

“Heart rate was high but I didn’t stop believing, we knew a couple of wickets would bring us back,” Punjab captain KL Rahul, who earlier top-scored with 91, said.

“I had gone to Arshdeep for crucial overs last year too. He doesn’t mind bowling the pressure overs, he seems to enjoy it. He loves being in the contest. Love throwing him the ball. He’s pretty clear with what he wants to do.”

Earlier, after being put into bat, Rahul and Deepak Hooda (64) ensured Punjab set a stiff target. Rajasthan’s multi-million dollar signing Chris Morris was hit for 41 off four overs before getting Hooda and Nicholas Pooran in his last over.

Bangladesh’s left-arm fast bowler Mustafizur Rehman gave away 45 runs without getting a wicket as Samson rotated eight bowlers without much success.

Rahul and Hooda combined in a 105-run stand with the Punjab captain smashing seven fours and five sixes. Hooda hit six sixes and four boundaries in his quickfire knock off just 28 balls before falling in Morris’ return spell.

Rahul looked set for his century but Chetan Sakariya had him caught on the edge of midwicket boundary in the last over as the young fast bowler impressed in a high-scoring game and finished with 3-31.