Royal Challengers Bangalore captain Faf du Plessis admired the power of the Punjab Kings’ sluggers as they blasted down a 206-run goal with an over to spare in Match 3 of the 2022 Indian Premier League (IPL) on Sunday.
Faf du Plessis hit an impressive 88 with just 57 balls but RCB ended on the losing side in his first game as captain. PBKS rode some stunning power hits from Shikhar Dhawan (43 of 29), Bhanuka Rajapaksha (43 of 22), Liam Livingstone (19 of 10), Odean Smith (25 not of 8 balls) and Shahrukh Khan (24 of 20) . ).
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At no point after captain Mayank Agarwal and Dhawan sewed a 71-run streak in just 7.1 overs did PBKS look under pressure in what appeared to be a steep chase. Mohammed Siraj conceded 59 runs in 4 overs while expensive Sri Lankan spinner Wanindu Hasaranga scored 40 runs in his 4-over quota as RCB went to the cleanup.
Recalling the critical moments in the game, Faf du Plessis highlighted Odean Smith’s dropped catch when the West Indies big hitter struck at 1 in the 17th over. RCB also dropped Shikhar Dhawan once when Dinesh Karthik missed a difficult chance after missing a direct opportunity to beat the PBKS opener early in the game.
“The catches towards the end Odean Smith 25 from 8 balls… I think we probably dropped him to 10. After that we look at some tailenders coming in. The cliché of catches win clocks,” said Faf du Plessis.
“There was a bit of dew out there, a tough night for the bowlers but I thought they were pretty decent with the wet ball. Small margins, but they hunted him down really well. They had a really good power play.
“The ball kept slipping a little further in the second innings and then we pulled it back nicely.
“We did a lot of good things in the middle. But you know what Odean Smith can do to you. So you have to hold on to those chances.
‘I’M TIRED’
“Even the other guy, Shahrukh Khan, didn’t really make it until the last few balls tonight. So it’s a completely different game when you take those chances,” he added.
Du Plessis expressed his delight at his batting of 88, adding: “I’m tired! First innings going, ohh (smiles). I’m just glad I got away without hurting myself from spending so much time dipping my elbows. That was it. It’s difficult to start the racquet today. The first four overs swung the ball, I was 1 of 10 I think. Holding the racquet is a bit tough but comfortable to overcome.
Du Plessis looked like he was struggling with timing after Mayank won the throw and went bowl, but the South African batter switched effortlessly. The RCB captain didn’t panic when faced with point balls at the start as he went into a six-shot mode to even out all those deliveries late in the innings.
However, Faf du Plessis broke the bonds in the 13th over when West Indian pacer Odean Smith bowled while the RCB skipper tonked the fast bowler for 2 sixes and a boundary. There was no turning back from there as the South African star hit 7 sixes and 3 boundaries and ran hard between the wickets in his 118 run streak with Virat Kohli.
