Wrecked beginning: 5 Lowest powerplay scores in IPL
The Indian Premier League is known for slam-bang, explosive cricket in the shortest format of the game. However, some games do not end up being played in that manner. With exceptional performances by the bowlers in conditions that assist them, we see new records being made. Here we bring you lowest powerplay scores made ever in IPL:
5. Kolkata Knight Riders- 17/4
Kolkata Knight Riders became the team with the lowest Powerplay score of the IPL 2020 season in the match against Royal Challengers Bangalore at Abu Dhabi. Hyderabad pacer Mohammed Siraj wreaked havoc, taking 3 wickets in 3 overs at the cost of just 2 runs. Tom Banton hit a four and six of Saini’s over, but Siraj got his wicket in the following over. Saini also picked up a wicket, while Morris stemmed the flow of runs from one end. KKR ended up scoring 84/8 in 20 overs and lost by 8 wickets.
4. Chennai Super Kings- 16/1
This was the third time ever that Chennai scored at less than 3 runs per over in the Powerplay overs. This came against Royal Challengers Bangalore at Chepauk in 2019 in the first match of the season. CSK rolled over RCB for 70 runs in the first innings on a turning track. However, they also took their time to chase down the target. RCB tried their best to slow down the scoring rate by introducing Yuzvendra Chahal in the Powerplay, who took the wicket of Shane Watson. Chennai ended up chasing the target with 14 balls to spare.
3. Chennai Super Kings- 16/1
Chennai yet again made it to this list in 2015, as Delhi put up an excellent show with the ball at Raipur. Dwayne Smith and Brendon McCullum opened the batting for the men in yellow. Zaheer Khan and Shahbaz Nadeem bowled tight lines, putting them under pressure as CSK scored only 15 runs. Khan took the wicket of McCullum in the Powerplay overs. CSK could only get to 119, as Delhi won by 6 wickets.
2. Chennai Super Kings- 15/2
Chennai Super Kings have been the most consistent side in the history of the league. However, they are known to start their innings a little conservatively in general. In Kolkata 2011, Brett Lee and Iqbal Abdullah tied down their scoring rate in the Powerplay. Abdullah took the wicket of Murali Vijay, while Yusuf Pathan sent back Suresh Raina in the first 6 overs itself. CSK could only manage114 runs in the 20 overs, as KKR won the game by 10 runs [DLS Method].
1. Rajasthan Royals- 14/2
Rajasthan Royals won the Indian Premier League in 2008, but they haven’t replicated that feat ever since. The following year, in their match against Royal Challengers Bangalore they restricted them to a below-par total of 133/8. In response, Rajasthan struggled to put bat to ball in the Powerplay, scoring a measly 14 at the expense of 2 wickets. The top 3 of Graeme Smith, Swapnil Asnodkar and Niraj Patel flopped miserably in this match. They would have fancied chasing down the target after the poor show in the Powerplay, but Kumble’s brilliance (5/5) bundled them out for the then lowest total in the league- 58.
