Rajasthan Royals set Chennai Super Kings a challenging target of over 180 in Guwahati on Sunday, thanks to a scintillating 81 off just 36 balls from Nitish Rana.
The veteran opener’s explosive knock was well-supported by Riyan Parag’s steady 37 in the middle order, as the stand-in skipper anchored the innings for the majority of his time at the crease before unleashing at the death.
However, Parag had a tough task ahead with Noor Ahmad about to bowl the first of the crucial final four overs. The way Parag tackled the challenge left his batting partner, Shimron Hetmyer, in awe.
Noor started the over with a quick wide delivery outside off, which Parag slapped past the field for a boundary. The Afghan spinner responded by going fuller, but Parag was ready, launching the ball effortlessly into the midwicket stands for a huge six.
Throughout the exchange, the young batter remained composed, even as Noor stood stunned by his opponent’s skill.
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Hetmyer, on the other hand, couldn’t hide his amazement, twisting his upper lip and popping his eyes out, before giving Parag an enthusiastic thumbs-up for his impressive shots. Twitter quickly picked up on the moment, with fans flooding the platform with hilarious reactions.