STAT NUGGETS
Follow UsHere are a few noteworthy statistical nuggets - apart from the usual number-crunching - from the game between Rajasthan Royals and Kings XI Punjab:
Mayank Agarwal notches up a 45-ball century
In the three matches Mayank Agarwal has played this season, it has been a complete turnaround for him from last year. After a sensational knock in the first match where he almost got Kings XI Punjab home, he couldn’t get going after a start in the second match against Royal Challengers Bangalore. But, today he was unstoppable as he notched up his maiden IPL century in just 45 balls. The 45-ball century is the second-fastest by an Indian in the IPL. Yusuf Pathan in the 2010 edition of IPL, brought up his century against Mumbai Indians in 37 balls, which is the fastest.
Third-highest opening partnership in IPL
KL Rahul had great opening partnerships for Kings XI Punjab with Chris Gayle in the 2019 season of IPL. The change in opener hasn’t affected them as Mayank has made the most of his opportunity. The Punjab openers posted a 183-run partnership, which is their highest opening partnership and second-best partnership for any wicket in IPL. Overall, their 183-run stand for the first wicket is the third-best in IPL. Sunrisers Hyderabad openers David Warner and Jonny Bairstow’s 185 run stand against RCB in 2019 is the best for an opening partnership.
Highest Powerplay score this season
First Kings XI Punjab set a high score of 60/0 in the Powerplay to register the highest score of this season. Soon, Rajasthan Royals breached it in the 2nd innings when they scored 69/1. Surprisingly, Rajasthan skipper, Steve Smith took on Punjab when everybody thought it would be Jos Buttler. After Buttler fell early, Sanju Samson joined hands with Smith to post 69 runs in the first six overs, which is now the highest Powerplay score this season. Smith scored at a strike rate of 206 and Samson at a strike rate of 209 during this phase.
Second-highest total against Rajasthan Royals
Rajasthan Royals are one of those teams who are misers when it comes to bowling. Today, was one of their off days and on a small ground like Sharjah it is understandable. On the other hand, Mayank was in the mood today. Kings XI Punjab posted 223/2 riding on a magnificent century by the opener. The 223 runs Punjab scored is the second-highest team total against Rajasthan in the IPL. Chennai Super Kings had scored 246/5 in the 2010 edition of IPL, which is the highest against them.
Steve Smith registers his fastest half-century in IPL
Smith was batting in fifth gear from the word go. Chasing 224, his intent was clearly evident in the Powerplay when he bettered Buttler’s strike rate. In the 18 balls he faced in the first 6 overs, Smith clubbed 7 boundaries and 1 maximum in the 37 runs he scored in this phase. He then quickly got to his half-century in 26 balls, which is his fastest in the IPL. His 50 consisted of 7 fours and two sixes.
Sanju Samson posts back-to-back half-centuries
This lad certainly is a pocket dynamo when he gets going. All of Samson's shots are so eye-pleasing that it looks like he’s been batting for years. In the first match of this season, Samson clubbed Chennai Super kings all over the park for a 74 off 32 balls at a strike rate of 231.2. In today’s match, he carried on from where he had left as he pummelled 85 runs of 42 balls at a strike rate of 202.4. In both the matches he was awarded as the player of the match. This is the first time in IPL that he has scored consecutive half-centuries.
Highest successful target chased in IPL history
There is something about Rajasthan Royals when it comes to chasing in IPL. In the inaugural season of IPL, Rajasthan had chased down a target of 215 against the Deccan Chargers which was the highest chase then. Today, yet again, in a high-scoring chase, Rajasthan's batsmen stepped up. First, Smith and Samson set the tempo in the first 6 overs even after the early exit of Buttler. Thereon, after the dismissal of Smith, Samson took charge and kept Rajasthan at bay. In any case, it felt like Rajasthan were going down the alley after the dismissal of Samson in the 17th over. But, a remarkable turnaround from Rahul Tewatia, fetched Rajasthan a stupendous victory. The chase of 224 is the highest by a team in the IPL.
Rajasthan Royals post their highest score in IPL
Rajasthan have had blazing starts to their IPL 2020 edition, scoring over 200 runs in both the matches. In their first match against Chennai Super Kings, they posted 217 and against Kings XI Punjab today, they posted 226 in the 2nd innings. Irrespective of the result, this is the highest score by a team in the 2nd innings in IPL. In 2010, when they were chasing a mammoth total of 247 against Chennai, they had scored 223/5, which was their highest total in IPL. Today, they went past that with a win against Punjab.
Sheldon Cottrell smacked for 5 sixes in an over
When Samson was dismissed to the first ball of the 17th over and with Tewatia struggling to score runs things were looking bleak for the team in pink. But Tewatia, who had scored 17 runs of 23 balls, hacked 5 sixes off Cottrell’s last over. Hence, reducing the equation from 51 off 18 balls to 21 off 12 balls. Cottrell became the 2nd bowler in IPL to concede 5 sixes in an over. Rahul Sharma in 2012 against Royal Challengers Bangalore is the other bowler to concede 5 sixes in an over.
Rajasthan Royals' flurry of sixes
Both of Rajasthan Royals' matches have been at Sharjah in this season and in both the matches there has been a flurry of sixes. It's not only for Rajasthan, but other team batsmen have also enjoyed the smaller boundaries. Coming to Rajasthan, in their first match against Chennai they had smashed 17 sixes, which was the most for them in a match in IPL. Today against Punjab, they scored one extra and broke the record. The 18 sixes they scored today is the most they have scored in an IPL match.
