Journalism of Courage
IPL 2020: Steve Smith & co end Kings XI fairytale
1 / 8Rajasthan Royals (RR) did a remarkable job in the run-chase as they beat Kings XI Punjab (KXIP) by seven wickets in Match 50 of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2020 at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi on Friday. (Source: IPL)
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2 / 8Needing 186 runs to win, RR were off to a flying start as Ben Stokes cut loose to bring up the fastest fifty for any team in the season. The left-hander, meanwhile, zoomed past fifty in 24 balls, hitting 6 fours and 3 sixes. (Source: IPL)
3 / 8But KXIP managed to get a much-needed breakthrough in the final over of the powerplay after Stokes got out off Chris Jordan’s bowling.
4 / 8While RR lost Uthappa in the 11th over, they continued to score at a brisk pace as Samson continued his merry ways with the bat. Over the next three overs, Samson hit two fours and a six while Smith hit two fours as RR zoomed past 140 after 14 overs. Sanju was on the brink of his fourth fifty of the season as the 15th over but could not reach the landmark following a brilliant direct hit from J Suchith. (Source: IPL)
5 / 8Jofra Archer struck in the first over with a ripping short ball after Ben Stokes took a stunning diving catch to dismiss Mandeep Singh. (Source: IPL)
6 / 8KL Rahul joined the party as he creamed a six and a four in the final over of the powerplay as he and Gayle completed a fifty-run stand to take KXIP to 53/1 in the powerplay. (Source: IPL)
7 / 8RR then broke the Gayle-Rahul partnership after Ben Stokes dismissed the KXIP skipper for 46 in the 15th over. (Source: IPL)
8 / 8Gayle then completed 1000 sixes in the T20 format and was in with a chance to notch up his seventh IPL hundred, but an Archer delivery ricocheted onto the stumps from his pads and he got out for 99 before KXIP posted 185/4 on the board. (Source: IPL)
