Key highlights from the sixth week of Indian Premier League-17
Mumbai Indians, Shashank Singh, Will Jacks, Yuzvendra Chahal, Bhuvneshwar Kumar
Record run chase in T20
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Shashank Singh celebrates Punjab Kings's win over KKR at Eden Gardens, Kolkata. PIC/AFP
IPL-17 will be known for breaking records week after week, and this week was no different. Punjab Kings successfully chased a 262-run target—the highest ever in T20 cricket as the visitors beat Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) at Eden Gardens with eight wickets and eight balls to spare. Batting first, KKR smashed 261-6. In reply, to everyone's surprise, the target was easily chased thanks to a century from comeback man and opener Jonny Bairstow and an unbeaten 28-ball 68 from Shashank Singh. The match also witnessed 42 sixes, the most in a T20 match, including 24 sixes by Punjab Kings, the most in a T20 innings.
Also Read: IPL 2024: Will Rinku Singh be able to put on a show vs MI at Wankhede?
Half-century to century off just 10 balls for Will Jacks
Will Jacks celebrates his century and RCB’s win over GT at Ahmedabad recently. PIC/AFP
The Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) top-order batter shocked one and all by going from half-century to century in the span of just 10 balls against Gujarat Titans (GT). The Englishman, who, at one stage, had a run-a-ball 17, smashed a 41-ball hundred to guide RCB home. The right-handed batter reached his half-century off 31 balls, but he went berserk thereafter, smashing six sixes and two fours in the next 10 balls as the bottom-placed side scored 58 runs in two overs to chase the 201-run target comfortably with four overs to spare. Jacks's unbeaten knock was laced with five fours and 10 sixes.
Two losses, both last-ball defeats for RR
SRH pacer Bhuvneshwar Kumar celebrates the wicket of RR’s Rovman Powell off the last ball. PIC/AFP
TABLE-toppers Rajasthan Royals (RR) have had a near-perfect run in this edition of IPL, with just two defeats, both coming off the last ball. Earlier last month, they failed to defend 196-3 against GT. On Thursday, they endured a one-run loss to Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH). Batting first, SRH posted a challenging 201-3, thanks to half-centuries by Nitish Reddy (76 not out), opener Travis Head (58), and a quickfire unbeaten 19-ball 42 by Heinrich Klaasen. RR, in their chase, were cruising at 181-4 in 17.1 overs. With 21 required off 17 balls, they seemed poised for their ninth victory and a confirmed place in the playoffs. However, the inaugural IPL champions suffered a dramatic collapse, managing just two runs in the next 10 balls for the loss of two wickets. With two required off the final ball, pacer Bhuvneshwar Kumar trapped Rovman Powell leg before wicket, handing RR their first defeat in five games.
T20 World Cup-bound players fail to deliver
India’s T20 World Cup-bound RR leggie Yuzvendra Chahal during his 0-62 against SRH. His most expensive figures in IPL. PIC/PTI
The T20 World Cup selection must have brought a sigh of relief to Indian players. However, none could celebrate by producing a match-winning effort. On selection day, Mumbai Indians's (MI) Rohit Sharma (4), Suryakumar Yadav (10), Hardik Pandya (0) failed with the bat. Pacer Jasprit Bumrah produced an economical spell, but went wicketless. MI skipper Pandya claimed two wickets with the ball, but in a losing cause against Lucknow Super Giants (LSG). On Wednesday, Chennai Super Kings (CSK) all-rounder Shivam Dube was dismissed for a duck and conceded 14 runs in the only over bowled against Punjab Kings, while Ravindra Jadeja contributed just two and went for 0-22 off three overs in CSK's losing cost. On the other hand, Punjab pacer Arshdeep Singh was smashed for 52 off four overs. While on Thursday, RR skipper Samson was dismissed for a duck and leggie Yuzvendra Chahal conceded 0-62 off four overs, his worst figures in IPL. RR opener Yashasvi Jaiswal was the only one to continue his fine form, scoring 40-ball 67. However, his effort went in vain against SRH.
Below 200 is no guarantee for victory
With IPL-17 witnessing 200-plus runs scored every other day, 200 or less is now seen as a below-par total, with the team batting second winning without much hiccups. Last Saturday, despite LSG propelling to 196-5, the chase seemed like a cakewalk for RR as the Samson-led side won easily with seven wickets and an over to spare. Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday too witnessed similar results. Delhi Capitals managed 153-9 on Monday in the allotted 20 overs. In reply, KKR won with 21 balls to spare. On Tuesday, MI were restricted to 144-7. LSG faced no major problems despite completing the chase in the final over. While on Wednesday, Punjab chased CSK's 162-7 with seven wickets and 13 balls to spare.
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