He might have been sporting a non-Chennai Tremendous Kings jersey for the primary within the Indian Premier League. He might have been main an IPL franchise for the primary time. However the strain didn’t inform on Faf du Plessis as his sensational hitting within the latter half of his innings piloted Royal Challengers Bangalore previous the 200-run mark in its IPL 2022 opener in opposition to Punjab Kings.
Du Plessis’ 88 (57b, 3×4, 7×6) and his 118-run partnership off simply 61 balls with Virat Kohli (41 n.o., 29b, 1×4, 2×6) set the tone for a excessive complete as IPL motion returned to the DY Patil Stadium after greater than a decade. Dinesh Karthik (32 n.o., 14b, 3×4, 3×6) supplied the ultimate kick as RCB piled up 205 for 2 in 20 overs.
In reply, Punjab Kings made a spirited reply with a 71-run opening stand off 43 balls between skipper Mayank Agarwal (32, 24b, 2×4, 2×6) and Shikhar Dhawan (43, 29b, 5×4, 1×6). Wanindu Hasaranga broke the partnership, dismissing Mayank together with his first supply. Bhanuka Rajapaksa’s cameo lit up the chase, the Sri Lankan hammering a 22-ball 43 with two fours and 4 sixes.
Harshal Patel, RCB’s Mr. Dependable, eliminated Dhawan earlier than Mohammed Siraj, costly in his first two overs, despatched again Rajapaksa and Raj Bawa off successive deliveries. Nevertheless, Odean Smith, within the firm of Shahrukh Khan, took Punjab Kings house with a shocking onslaught.
In RCB innings, regardless of Kohli getting off to a flier after teenager Anuj Rawat’s cameo within the PowerPlay, du Plessis regarded tentative.
RCB was 78 for one after 11 overs, with the captain on 23 off 34 balls. Nevertheless, off the subsequent seven deliveries, du Plessis smashed 28, celebrating his half-century with successive paddled sixes off Odean Smith. The West Indian had earlier been denied du Plessis’ wicket within the PowerPlay attributable to Shahrukh’s miss.
It continued to rain sixes as Kohli — who had danced down the wicket to ship left-arm spinner Harpreet Brar crusing into the sightscreen earlier — adopted up with one other six after du Plessis’ back-to-back maximums.
In three overs, RCB made 58 runs and the stage was set for an ideal end. Regardless of du Plessis falling wanting 100, Kohli and Karthik supplied the proper end because the Bengaluru facet rattled up 61 within the final 5 overs.
