Key highlights from the fifth week of Indian Premier League-17
Gujarat Titans pacer Mohit Sharma. PIC/GETTY IMAGES
Unwanted record for Mohit Sharma
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Veteran Gujarat Titans pacer Mohit Sharma became the most expensive bowler in IPL history when he leaked 73 runs without dismissing a batter off four overs at an economy rate of 18.20 against Delhi Capitals (DC) at the Kotla. He displaced Sunrisers Hyderabad’s (SRH) Basil Thampi, who had gone for 70 runs against Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in 2018. The right-arm medium pacer conceded 42 runs in his first three overs and was smashed for 31 in the final over, which saw four sixes and a four from DC skipper Rishabh Pant.
Powerplay show by SRH
SRH’s Travis Head and Abhishek Sharma during their 131-run stand v DC at Kotla. PIC/AFP
SRH have stunned one and all by smashing the highest IPL total twice this season, and there was no stopping for the 2016 champions against DC at Kotla. Openers Travis Head and Abhishek Sharma gave SRH a solid start, smashing 125-0 in 6 overs—a record Powerplay score in a T20 match. The first six overs saw 13 fours and 11 sixes. The previous T20 Powerplay record was held by Nottinghamshire (106-0) against Durham in 2017 at Trent Bridge, while in the IPL, the highest was by Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) — 105-0 versus RCB in 2017.
Dhoni yet to be dismissed
CSK’s MS Dhoni hits a four against LSG at Chepauk on Tuesday. Pic/AFP
Chennai Super Kings's (CSK) Mahendra Singh Dhoni is yet to be dismissed this season. He has smashed 91 runs in six innings at an impressive strike-rate of 260.00. With speculation that this could be the 42-year-old's last IPL, the former CSK skipper is receiving the loudest of cheers as he walks in to bat at any venue, and the wicketkeeper-batsman hasn't disappointed either. Dhoni didn't come into bat in the first two matches as India's World Cup-winning captain dropped himself to No. 8. His first appearance as a batsman this season was witnessed against DC at Vizag. Coming in at No. 8, Dhoni smashed an unbeaten 37 off just 16 balls, including four fours and three sixes. He, however, couldn't take CSK over the line, but was massively lauded for his first competitive innings after almost 10 months. The right-handed batsman’s hat-trick of sixes in the final over off Mumbai Indians (MI) skipper Hardik Pandya proved decisive as the defending champions went on to win the game by 20 runs.
Stoinis stuns CSK
Marcus Stoinis celebrates LSG’s win over CSK. PIC/AFP
Lucknow Super Giants’s (LSG) Marcus Stoinis on Tuesday created history by scoring an unbeaten 124, the highest individual score in an IPL run chase, as the visitors reached the 211-run target in the final over to hand CSK their first home defeat this season. It was also the highest run-chase in IPL at Chepauk. Stoinis’s 63-ball knock, which was laced with 13 fours and six sixes surpassed Kings XI Punjab’s (now Punjab Kings) Paul Valthaty’s 120 not out against the then Dhoni-led CSK to chase 189. Stoinis’s maiden IPL hundred is also the highest individual score against CSK in IPL. The game also witnessed two centuries scored by players from both sides as batting first, captain Ruturaj Gaikwad scored 108 not out off 60 balls to take CSK to 210-4.
A win for RCB, finally
RCB players celebrate their win over SRH. PIC/AFP
RCB beat batting powerhouse SRH by 35 runs to register their first win exactly after a month and only their second victory this season to end a six-match losing streak. The victory keeps RCB’s playoff hopes alive despite being placed at the bottom of the points table with two wins and seven defeats. The Faf du Plessis-led side lost the IPL opener to CSK at Chepauk. They then beat Punjab Kings in a last-over thriller at home for their first win this year. Later, they lost to Kolkata Knight Riders (twice), LSG, Rajasthan Royals, MI and SRH.
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