RR vs PBKS Highlights Match 1 - IPL 2023 Season 16: Shikhar Dhawan, Nathan Ellis, Prabhsimran star in Punjab win

Nathan Ellis justified team management's decision after getting picked over senior South Africa pacer Kagiso Rabada as he starred in Punjab Kings' 5-run win over Rajasthan Royals in match number 8 of IPL 2023 at Barsapara Cricket Stadium on Wednesday (April 5).

Defending a total of 197, a spirited performance from Ellis inspired the other Punjab bowlers to put up a clinical show and prevented Rajasthan Royals from crossing the winning line despite cameos from Shimron Hetmyer and impact substitute Dhruv Jurel.

Shikhar Dhawan Emerged As The Better Captain

Captain Shikhar Dhawan marshalled his troops brilliantly and held on to the nerves in the death overs to eke out a fine win in a high-scoring game on a pitch that looked conducive for batting all the way through.

The dew also added up to the woes of the team bowling second but the visitors, Punjab Kings, did well in the end and handed the runners-up from the previous season their first loss of IPL 2023.

Dhruv Jurel-Hetmyer Kept Royals' Hopes Alive

Dhruv Jurel and Shimron Hetmyer gave Punjab Kings some jitters in the death overs with their partnership of 60 off 21 deliveries. Jurel (22) was the impact player for the Royals and made use of the opportunity to prove his mettle with his whirlwind knock of 32* off 15 balls.

West Indies swashbuckler Hetmyer (36 off 18) also played a fine knock but couldn't help his team clear the finish line. With 16 needed from the final over - which was being bowled by the costliest player in IPL history i.e. Sam Curran - Hetmyer was dismissed run out on the third ball while trying to take strike.

With Hetmyer dismissed, it was a herculean task for Jurel and the new-man-in Jason Holder to cross the winning line and Curran - the player of the tournament in T20 World Cup 2022 - didn't allow them to score runs.

Perfect Game For Punjab Kings

Punjab Kings did almost everything good with the bat as they posted a big total but it was their pacer Nathan Ellis, who returned with a four-for and dismissed the big guns like Jos Buttler, Sanju Samson, Devdutt Padikkal and Riyan Parag.

PBKS went with Ellis (4/30) in the game ahead of senior South Africa pacer, Kagiso Rabada and justified his selection in the game. The Aussie was adjudged the player of the match for his performance.

Prabhsimran Singh-Shikhar Dhawan Fire Upfront

Earlier in the day, opener Prabhsimran Singh smashed his career's maiden IPL fifty and gave Punjab Kings a solid start along with captain Dhawan.

While Prabhsimran scored a 34-ball 60 (7xfours, 3xsixes), skipper Dhawan slammed his IPL career's fiftieth half-century and carried his bat through. Dhawan - one of the most prolific run-scorers of the tournament - scored 86* off 56 balls (9 x fours, 3 x sixes) in his sensational knock and took his team to a big total.

For Rajasthan Royals, captain Samson was the top-scorer for his innings of 42-run off 25 balls but that wasn't enough. Their key batters Jos Buttler and Yashasvi Jaiswal both failed to fire in the big run chase and RR could only muster 192 for 7 in 20 overs and lost their first defeat of the season.