CHRIS GAYLE’S 79 POWERS PUNJAB TO 184/4 AGAINST ROYALS
Coasting at 148 for three, Rajasthan lose six wickets for 22 runs after Kings’ Ashwin ‘Mankads’ Jos Buttler
JAIPUR:Jos Buttler was furious as Kings XI Punjab captain R Ashwin took off the bails at the nonstriker’s end and appealed for a run out. There was confusion in the middle and a heated exchange but the third umpire ruled Rajasthan Royals batsman Buttler out for backing up too far.
The incident in the 12th over completely turned the flow of the match. Till then Royals were cruising, chasing 184/4 built around Chris Gayle’s majestic 79. Buttler was in the midst of an explosive knock scoring 69 off 43. With Ajinkya Rahane, he had raised 78 runs in the first eight overs, dealing in fours and sixes. Rahane was dismissed by Ashwin in the ninth over but Buttler was unstoppable at the other end, until Ashwin ‘Mankaded’ him.
CONTROVERSIAL
‘Mankading,’ as the dismissal is called, is one of the most controversial topics in cricket. India’s Vinoo Mankad was the first bowler who ran out Australia’s Bill Brown in 1947-48 series catching him unawares at the non-striker’s end.
It was the second time that Buttler was dismissed in this fashion. He was earlier dismissed in an ODI against Sri Lanka in 2014 when Sachithra Senanayke caught him backing up too far.
Buttler’s dismissal completely changed the complexion of the match. Rajasthan Royals horribly lost the plot after his exit. From 108/2 in 13 overs, Rajasthan started losing wickets in quick succession and could manage only 170/9.
The next batsman to come was Steve Smith who hit a quickfire 20 off 16 balls before being brilliantly caught by KL Rahul who came running from long-off and dived to his left to grab a blinder. A ball later Sanju Samson was on his way back to the pavilion. Both dismissals were effected by Sam Curran who otherwise had a torrid time in his IPL debut match as Rajasthan batsman feasted on him.
Rajasthan Royals were suddenly
sinking after being at the top of the game for most part of the match. Ben Stokes and Rahul Tripathi did not last long and the tail failed to take the team home.
GAYLE CLASSIC
Rajasthan had also made a good start when they elected to field. It takes effort to keep Chris Gayle quiet. However, if Kings XI Punjab looked to get off to a flying start with two of their best stroke-makers Gayle and KL Rahul at the crease—it was not to be.
Rajasthan Royals came out with a well-planned strategy and captain Rahane made the right moves. It worked for the first half of the innings before Gayle cut loose scoring 79 off 47 balls.