IPL 2022: RCB captain Faf du Plessis in awe of PBKS power-hitters after failing to defend 205
India Today
IPL 2022: Faf du Plessis paid credit to Punjab Kings power-hitters after Royal Challengers Bangalore failed to defend a 205-run total in their opener. The new skipper rued missed opportunities as PBKS won with an over to spare.
Royal Challengers Bangalore captain Faf du Plessis admired the power-hitting of Punjab Kings' batters as they gunned down a 206-run target with an over to spare in Match 3 of Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 on Sunday.
Faf du Plessis hit a stunning 88 from just 57 balls but RCB ended up on the losing side in his first match as captain. PBKS rode on some stunning power-hitting from Shikhar Dhawan (43 off 29), Bhanuka Rajapaksha (43 off 22), Liam Livingstone (19 off 10), Odean Smith (25 not out of 8 balls) and Shahrukh Khan (24 off 20).
At no point after captain Mayank Agarwal and Dhawan stitched a 71-run stand in just 7.1 overs, PBKS looked under pressure in what looked like a steep chase. Mohammed Siraj conceded 59 runs in 4 overs while expensive Sri Lanka spinner Wanindu Hasaranga scored 40 runs in his 4-over quota as RCB were taken to the cleaners.
Faf du Plessis, recollecting the crunch moments in the game, highlighted the dropped catch of Odean Smith when the West Indies big-hitter was batting on 1 in the 17th over. RCB also dropped Shikhar Dhawan once as Dinesh Karthik missed a tough chance after failing to make use of a straightforward opportunity to stump the PBKS opener earlier in the game.
"The catches towards the end Odean Smith 25 off 8 balls.. I think we probably dropped him on 10. After that, we are looking at some tailenders coming in. The cliche of catches win watches," Faf du Plessis said.
"There was a bit of dew out there, a tough night for the bowlers, but I thought they were pretty decent with the wet ball. Small margins, but they chased it down really well. They had a really good powerplay.
"The ball skidded on a bit more in the second innings and then we pulled it back beautifully.
