wicket IPL loss to Rajasthan Royals

In short:

Rajasthan Royals scored a six-wicket win over Punjab Kings in the IPL.

Marcus Stoinis was 62 not out at the end of the Kings' innings.

It is the Kings' first loss of the IPL season.

Ricky Ponting's Punjab Kings have recorded a six-wicket loss against Rajasthan Royals, despite Marcus Stoinis hitting an unbeaten 62 off 22 balls in New Chandigarh.

It was the Kings' first defeat of the Indian Premier League (IPL) season.

Stoinis took 24 off the final over, which was bowled by Brijesh Sharma.

The Australian all-rounder helped lift Kings to 4-222 in their 20 overs, with compatriot Cooper Connolly chipping in with a 14-ball 30.

Stoinis and Connolly hit nine sixes between them.

On a tricky pitch, described by Kings captain Shreyas Iyer as "tacky and slow", the Kings' total looked sufficient.

Yet the Royals reached their target with four balls to spare.

Donovan Ferreira hit a six to bring up the winning runs.

Teen star Vaibhav Sooryavanshi launched the response with an explosive 43 off 16 balls, before rapid half-centuries from Yashasvi Jaiswal (51 off 27) and Ferreira (52 not out off 26) took the visitors to victory.

Kings bowlers Arshdeep Singh (1-68 off four overs) Lockie Ferguson (0-57 off four) and Marco Jansen (0-41 off 3.2) were all savaged as Royals hit 14 sixes.

Five of those came from Sooryavanshi, the remarkable 15-year-old who has set the cricket world alight.

The Ponting-coached remain top of the IPL standings.

AAP

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