Chris Gayle hit a belligerent half century as Kings XI Punjab (KXIP) registered a convincing 14-run win over Rajasthan Royals (RR) in a controversial Indian Premier League (IPL) 2019 match in Jaipur on Monday
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Opening the innings, Gayle started in an uncharacteristic fashion but grew in confidence as the innings progressed and helped Kings XI post a challenging 184 for four after being sent into bat.
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Gayle scored 79 off 47 balls and hit eight boundaries and four sixes in the process. Besides Gayle, young Sarfaraz Khan (46 not out off 29 balls) also played a good hand.
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Chasing the stiff target, Jos Buttler (69) and skipper Ajinkya Rahane (27) got Rajasthan off to a brisk start, dealing in boundaries and sixes to pile up 64 runs in the first six overs of powerplay.
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Buttler, in particular, looked in a destructive mood as he didn't spare a single Kings XI bowler and struck eight boundaries and two hits over the fence to notch up his fifty in just 29 balls.
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Buttler and Rahane shared 78 runs in eight overs for the opening stand. Buttler was going strong in the company of Sanju Samson (30) as they duo batted sensibly to keep Rajasthan in the hunt.
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But just when it seemed Kings XI were running out of ideas, skipper Ashwin did the unthinkable as Buttler became the first victim of 'Mankading' in the history of IPL. A desperate Ashwin mankaded Buttler in controversial circumstances in the 13th over with Rajasthan scoreboard reading 108 for two.
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"On my part, it was very instinctive (mankading of Jos Buttler). It wasn’t planned or anything like that. It’s there within the rules of the game. I don’t understand where the spirit of the game comes (in). Naturally, if it’s there in the rules it’s there," Ashwin said.
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