Aarav walked back to the boundary, his chest heaving, the adrenaline still coursing through him. The roar of the crowd was a tangible reward for his heroics in the 17th over. He looked at the scoreboard: 131 for 6. SRH needed 15 runs from 18 balls. The momentum had swung dramatically, but the job was far from done. The batsmen, Bhuvneshwar Kumar and the newly arrived Karn Sharma, were at the crease, both capable of finding boundaries.
The captain, tossed the ball to RP Singh. The left-arm pacer, a veteran of countless high-pressure moments, took a deep breath, his face etched with grim determination. He knew the weight of this 18th over. A couple of boundaries here, and Aarav's brilliance would be negated. A tight over, however, would leave SRH with a daunting task in the final two overs.
RP Singh began his run-up, the experience in his stride evident.
First ball: A full, accurate delivery, angling into Bhuvneshwar Kumar. Bhuvi, trying to push it through the covers, got a thick inside edge that squirted towards square leg. Single. Just one run, but the scoreboard moved.
Second ball: Karn Sharma on strike. RP went for a well-directed slower ball, aiming at the blockhole. Karn, expecting pace, was completely deceived, swinging through the line of the ball. It missed everything, a clean dot ball. The Supergiants' fielders erupted in encouragement.
Third ball: RP followed up with a sharp, short delivery, hurrying Karn. The ball bounced awkwardly, catching Karn by surprise, who could only fend it defensively towards point. Another dot ball. The tension ratcheted up a notch. The crowd held its breath.
Fourth ball: Under immense pressure, RP delivered a pinpoint yorker, swinging in late towards Karn Sharma's pads. Karn barely managed to get his bat down in time, jamming it out defensively. The ball rolled towards the leg side. Dot ball. Three consecutive dots! The dugout was alive, shouting.
Fifth ball: With Karn struggling for rhythm, RP pitched it slightly back of a length, angling it across him. Karn tried to create room, attempting to guide it through third man, but the ball found the outside edge. It flew wide of the keeper, running down to the boundary. Four runs. A groan escaped the RPS camp, but it was also an acknowledgement of good batting under pressure. RP clenched his jaw.
Sixth ball: RP bowled a quick, full delivery, straight and true. Karn defended it solidly back to the bowler. A dot ball to finish a fiercely contested over.
RP Singh completed his spell, his face tight with effort. He had bowled a superb over, conceding just 5 runs that too because of bad luck getting thick edge but, crucially, could not get a wicket. The scoreboard now read 136 for 6. SRH needed 10 runs off the final 2 overs (12 balls). The veteran had kept them in the game, but the path to victory was still fraught with danger. The stage was set for a nail-biting finish.