New Delhi, Delhi, India

KL Rahul played a spectacular knock to lift Punjab from the early losses while chasing a target of mere 158 set by Rajasthan at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium on Tuesday.

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Rahul smashed eleven boundaries and two sixes to reach an unbeaten 95 runs. 

But the efforts went in vain as Punjab fell 15 runs short to defeat Rajasthan and ended their innings at 143 after 20 overs.

Apart from Rahul no other player contributed. 

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Run machine Chris Gayle was also sent back to the pavilion after making just one run. 

 Karun Nair and Akshdeep Nath also departed after making 3 and 9 respectively. 

For Rajasthan, Krishnappa Gowtham took two wickets in three overs bowled and gave just 13 runs to lift his team to victory.

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Earlier, Punjab's Andrew Tye 4 wickets for 34 runs came with a clinical bowling show to restrict Rajasthan Royals to 158 in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL).

Bottom-placed Rajasthan struggled to cross the 100-run mark but thanks to a blistering 58-ball 82 by opener Jos Buttler that propelled the hosts to a moderate total.

Opting to bat, Rajasthan were off to a quick start, accumulating 35 runs in the first three overs.

Tye drew the first blood for Punjab as his knuckle-ball played the trick to dismiss opener Ajinkya Rahane for nine in the fourth over.

Buttler however, continued to fully utilise the powerplay to take his side past the 50-run mark in five overs.

In-form Sanju Samson made 22 runs before he joined Butler to forge a 53-run partnership for the third wicket.

Samson departed in the 15th over off a Mujeeb ur Rahman delivery with the Rajasthan scorecard reading 117.

Of the last four wickets, Tye was involved in dismissing three of the Rajasthan batters.

Other than Tye, Afghanistan spinner Mujeeb bagged a couple of wickets conceding 21 runs in four overs while Stoinis chipped in with one wicket.