Proteas at the IPL: Quinny warms up, Miller out of favour
Here’s how the South Africans fared after two weeks of the glitzy T20 tournament.
Royal Challengers Bangalore batsman Quinton De Kock plays a shot during the 2018 Indian Premier League (IPL) Twenty20 cricket match between Royal Challengers Bangalore and Rajasthan Royals at The M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bangalore on April 15, 2018. / AFP PHOTO / Manjunath KIRAN / —-IMAGE RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE – STRICTLY NO COMMERCIAL USE—– / GETTYOUT
It hasn’t been a particularly fruitful Indian Premier League for the South Africans to date.
Here’s how things have gone after the first two weeks.
AB DE VILLIERS
The Proteas talisman simply remains the model professional.
He played a match-winning innings of 57 off 40 in Royal Challengers Bangalore’s tough victory over Kings XI Punjab, anchoring a chase of 156 when things became really sticky.
De Villiers still managed to whack four sixes.
He made 20 in the loss against Rajasthan Royals.
QUINTON DE KOCK
South Africa’s gifted wicketkeeper-batsman seems to be finding his feet after a false start.
There was a fluent 34-ball 45 in Bangalore’s victory over Punjab though he was out to spin once again when he missed a slider from Ravi Ashwin.
A promising 26 followed in the next game but, like De Villiers, it wasn’t capitalised on.
IMRAN TAHIR
The veteran leg-spinner bowled an economical spell in Chennai Super Kings’ run fest against Kolkata Knight Riders.
He was finally rewarded with two wickets against Kings XI but those sticks came at a cost.
Nonetheless, he seems to be considered an important part of the attack.
CHRIS MORRIS
Delhi Daredevils cricketer Chris Morris plays a shot during the 2018 Indian Premier League (IPL) Twenty20 cricket match between Rajasthan Royals and Delhi Daredevils at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur on April 11, 2018. / AFP PHOTO / CHANDAN KHANNA / —-IMAGE RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE – STRICTLY NO COMMERCIAL USE—– / GETTYOUT
Gamely tried to win a seven-over shootout for Delhi Daredevils – they needed 60 – with a quickfire 17 off 7 balls.
His next game featured an expensive spell of 2/41.
It was typical Morris – he’ll never stop taking wickets but the economy is invariably a problem.
DAVID MILLER
A bit depressingly, he’s fallen out of favour for now.
For more sport your way, follow The Citizen on Facebook and Twitter.
