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In the 45th match of Indian Premier League (IPL) 2020, Rajasthan Royals (RR) defeated Mumbai Indians (MI) by 8-wickets at Sheikh Zayed Sওtadium in Abu Dhabi𝐆 on Sunday.
Chasing the challenging target of 196, Royals didn’t have a great start. They lost opener Robin Uthappa (13) in the second over of the innings bowled by pacer James Pattinson.
Pattinson continued the momentum and soon dismissed skipper Steve Smith (11) in the fifth over of RR’s chase.
Then, Ben Stokes (107 not out) and Sanju Samson (54 not out) steadied the ship. The duo kept o𝓀n scoring boundaries at regular intervals to keep the run-rate high.
Stokes scored his first fifty of this season and soon converted it into triple-figure while Samson smashed his third half-century of IPL 2020. The pair didn’t give any chance to MI bowlers and took the game away from the defending champions.
In the penultimate over, Stokes reached his hundred and finished the match as well. Royals chased down the massive target with 10 balls to spare. Both Stokes and Samson added an unbeaten 152-run stand for the third wicket.
With the win, RR climbed to the sixth spot in the points table.
Hardik Pandya fires MI to 195/5
Earlier, Hardik Pandya came out all guns blazing and did what he does best in slog overs. Pandya exhibited his remarkable six-hitting ability and scored an unbeate🐻n 60 off 21 b༺alls.
The star all-rounder smashed nine boundaries, including seven towering sixes. His impressive knock guided MI to an imposing 195/5 after 20 overs.
Surya Kumar Yadav (40), Ishan Kishan (37), and Saurabh Tiwary (34) chipped in with valuable contributions.
For Royals, Jofra Archer and Shreyas Gopal picked up two wickets while Kartik Tyagi bagged one scalp. Rahul Tewatia went wicketless, but he was the least expensive bowler for his side. Tewatia only conceded 25 runs in his 4-over spell at an economy of 6.20.
Here is how Twitter reacted:
Is there anything that can't do. The very best in the world right now coming good for in crucial game.
— Hemang Badani (@hemangkbadani)
Ben stokes scores a quality 💯! What a timely knock when team needed it great partnership with another cool and composed knoꦦck ! And this table is getting interesting ! Great hitting by to set up a big total ⛄for
— Yuvraj Singh (@YUVSTRONG12)
Great game tonight vs some brilliant hitting by but in the end coming t🎉o the party with brilliant 100 and ༒👌
— Harbhajan Turbanator (@harbhajan_singh)
Big ben rings the bell tonight in the iplThis is the best 100 i have seen in the Ipl,sensational would be an understatement! when you are on song , the talent you hav🔯e just overflows! Brilliant victory for !
— Kris Srikkanth (@KrisSrikkanth)
Ben Stokes hasn't done anything new. He has played far better innings in more difficult situations. Only surprise was that it took some days to produce such a knock!
— R P Singh रुद्र प्रताप सिंह (@rpsingh)
Dilli Metro mein baithne ko Seat , Zindagi me sachha pyaar aur IPL Playoffs mein jagah itni aasani se nahi milti.
💝Rajasthan still very much alive.ꦬ Outstanding innings from Ben Stokes.— Virender Sehwag (@virendersehwag)
Loss of words for ‘s innings tonight against Something special we all witnessed.
Wat a great suppo𝓡rting roleဣ played by talented !! At last d decision of sending at opening slot finally paid off— MANOJ TIWARY (@tiwarymanoj)
That’s the fight🃏 of this group! and absolutely incredible 🙌
Two more wins and a few results to go our way…we will never give up!
— Jake Lush McCrum (@JakeLushMcCrum)
Unfortunateꦍ result for our boys, well batted proper knock that. Huge next 3 games for us to try lock i❀n a top 2 spot.
— Mitchell McClenaghan (@Mitch_Savage)
Serious b🗹atsmanship this tournament is ��🔥🔥🔥 up towards♚ the business end.. that was proper striking.
— JP Duminy (@jpduminy21)
Incredible batting from for . Scored his second 💯 in . Helped RR to reach 6th position on th𝐆e points table
— Vinay Kumar R (@Vinay_Kumar_R)
Class act …
— Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan)
Ben Stokes – First man to score 2 centuries in successful run-chases in IPL history.
— Bharath Seervi (@SeerviBharath)
So Ben shouldn't open the innings? 😤 | | | |
— Rajasthan Royals (@rajasthanroyals)
195/5 is now Mumbai India's highest total batting 1st to lose an match!
Previous: MI 194/7 lost to Delhi 195/3 at Mumb𓄧ai WS 2018— Mohandas Menon (@mohanstatsman)
This man is an entertainer and he has come to win! Made that look unbelievably easy💟! Some very proud people in England & 💙NZ! Feel very fortunate to have witnessed that! 🔥🔥🔥🔥
— Isa Guha (@isaguha)
Everyone in the commentary box up and clapping this 50 by . Very🧸 pleasant player to🌜 watch
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha)
