Last Update on: November 12th, 2020 at 11:32 pm
Ben Stokes – 107* vs Mumbai Indians:
Ben Stokes arrived into the match under plenty of pressure being one of the highest-paid cricketers and having to show too much for it. Pundits called for Stokes to move down the order or make way for David Miller into the eleven; however, Rajasthan Royals stuck with him at the top. It was in this game that the management’s decision to persist with him as the opener paid off.
The England all-rounder, who opened with Robin Uthappa, lost his partner early in a steep chase of 196. But he kept up and running, carting Trent Boult for four boundaries in an over. Steve Smith’s departure was a blessing in disguise as it brought Sanju Samson to the crease with whom Stokes sealed a match-winning unbeaten stand of 152.
The southpaw played some outrageous strokes on the way to his second IPL hundred. Ben Stokes reached the ton with a six in the mid-wicket region off James Pattinson’s bowling. Rajasthan Royals got to Mumbai Indians’ total of 196 with more than an over and eight wickets to spare.
