Proteas at the IPL: AB dazzles, Quinny looks puzzled
Here's how the South Africans fared on the opening weekend of this year's tournament.
Royal Challengers Bangalore cricketer AB de Villiers plays a shot as Kolkata Knight Riders captain Dinesh Karthik looks on during the 2018 Indian Premier League (IPL) Twenty20 cricket match between Kolkata Knight Riders and Royal Challengers Bangalore at the Eden Gardens Cricket Stadium in Kolkata on April 8, 2018. / AFP PHOTO / Dibyangshu SARKAR /
There might be far less South Africans this year at the Indian Premier League (IPL) but the majority of them were in action on the opening weekend of the 2018 edition.
Here’s how they fared.
IMRAN TAHIR
Chennai Super Kings cricketer Imran Tahir (C) celebrates with teammates after taking the wicket of Mumbai Indians batsman Ishan Kishan during the 2018 Indian Premier League (IPL) Twenty20 cricket match between Mumbai Indians and Chennai Super Kings at the Wankhede stadium in Mumbai on April 7, 2018. / AFP PHOTO / PUNIT PARANJPE /
The Proteas’ veteran leg-spinner didn’t have the best of nights in Chennai Super Kings’ thrilling one-wicket win over the Mumbai Indians.
He went for 23 runs in his two overs but did manage to pick up the wicket of 19-year-old rookie Ishan Kishan, who looked well set for his 40.
It was a typical dismissal – a top-spinner that was skied to third man.
Tahir did well to hold out at No 11 with the bat as his team scraped to their win.
AB DE VILLIERS
The middle order dynamo showed yet again why he’s so popular in India.
De Villiers whacked five sixes in a 23-ball 44 for Royal Challengers Bangalore against Kolkata Knight Riders, dominating a partnership with India captain Virat Kolhi, who struggled.
The 33-year-old star dispatched Kuldeep Yadav – the tormentor of the Proteas in India’s recent ODI series here – for successive maximums in an at-times brutal display.
But he succumbed to part-time offie Nitish Rana, who then dismissed Kohli next ball.
Bangalore lost momentum and eventually lost by six wickets.
QUINTON DE KOCK
The Proteas wicketkeeper-batsman’s debut for Bangalore lasted only four balls with the bat.
Clearly struggling to read the leg-spin of Piyush Chawla, De Kock tried an ill-advised reverse sweep that was top edged to short third man.
Bangalore will hope this struggle against the tweakers isn’t a sign of things to come.
CHRIS MORRIS
The lanky all-rounder certainly played his part as batter, stroking a nifty, unbeaten 27 off just 16 balls for Delhi Daredevils in their meeting with Kings XI Punjab.
Delhi had stumbled to 125/6 in the 16th over before Morris helped guide them to a competitive 166/7.
His bowling though was typically inconsistent.
While Morris grabbed the key wicket of Mayank Agarwal – or was rather gifted it by a poor shot – he conceded 20 runs in his first two overs.
He ended with 1/25 from three.
DAVID MILLER
Kings XI Punjab batsman David Miller plays a shot during the 2018 Indian Premier League (IPL) Twenty20 cricket match between Kings XI Punjab and Delhi Daredevils at The Punjab Cricket Association Stadium in Mohali on April 8, 2018. / AFP PHOTO / SAJJAD HUSSAIN /
With KL Rahul blasting a record-breaking 14-ball fifty, Kings XI’s chase was a mere formality.
As a result, the Proteas left-hander didn’t have to resort to anything fancy to guide his side to a six-wicket win.
Miller was subdued in making an unbeaten 24 off 23 but really didn’t need to do anything differently.
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