The IPL 16 marched into its 3rd day on Sunday with two exciting clashes billed for a sellout. At first Sunrisers Hyderabad ( SRH ) were to take on Rajasthan Royals ( RR ) at Hyderabad and in the evening the mighty Mumbai Indians ( MI ) were listed to challenge Royal Challengers Bangalore ( RCB ) on their home turf Bengaluru. You may call it initial nerves, the travelling teams had not posed a challenge of sorts in the games held so far and not surprisingly the outcomes were similar on Sunday too barring SRH who just did not turn up on their home ground.
IPL 16 : SRH vs RR – Match 4 : Hyderabad
Brutal Jos
In the first match Rajasthan Royals gave a dressing down to SRH in a hopelessly one sided affair. Jos Buttler tormented the SRH bowlers. Yashasvi Jaiswal ( who has been in tremendous form in domestic cricket ) was not far behind in handing a decent pasting to SRH and captain Sanju Samson effortless as ever, provided the finishing lessons. RR amassed 203, though it could have been much much more. Farooqui and Natarajan stemming the flow of runs at the back end.
Brilliant Bolt
The SRH batsmen were all at sea. Trent Boult, the great bowler he is, knocked over Abhishek Sharma with a beauty and in the same over Rahul Tripathi perished to an astonishing catch by Jason Holder at slips. SRH were 2 down with nothing on the board. You have to possess good technique to play bowlers like Boult and the SRH batsmen were truly tested.
SRH – All at Sea
The huge buy Harry Brook did not last long, bowled by a ripper from Chahal and by the 10th over, SRH were just trying to reduce the margin of defeat. Eventually they lost by a massive 72 runs and might suffer later with an awful net run rate. It was indeed a pathetic display from the home team. There were not only nervous but woefully bereft of ideas on the ground. RR on the other hand have a terrific batting line up, particularly upfront and have three match winning bowlers in Boult, Chahal and Ashwin, and they are looking good, is an ominous sign.
IPL 16 : RCB vs MI – Match 5 : Bengaluru
Timid MI
The Big Match at the Chinnaswamy Stadium did not live up to the expectations with Mumbai putting by a meek display, barring the ever impressive Tilak Verma, whose belligerent 84 helped MI reach a respectable score. The big buys Cameron Green and Tim David not doing much. The bowling unfortunately just did not show up for MI too. The MI bowlers were totally lost in the din of the Chinnaswamy Stadium.
Robust RCB
Faf Du Plesis and Virat Kohli batted with supreme aplomb, making light work of the target ( 172 ) and of the MI attack. It was a battering which the MI bowlers received that too with great style and finesse. The impact substitution in the form of Jason Behrendorff failed to have any impact and RCB won with lots to spare, making a telling statement in the process. Faf and Virat looked so focussed. They meant business and their determination showed it all. A one sided evening indeed.
There are very early days and I am sure the teams which have got a dressing down will introspect and come back strongly. There is all to play for.
Chennai is all yellow today as CSK is hosting the Lucknow Super Giants at Chepauk, the yellow Fortress. Enjoy the Game tonight and keep reading.
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Featured image/ Jos the Boss/ pic courtesy Outlook