IPL 2019: Top Most Exciting Highlights from Week 5

Ajinkya Rahane’s classy hundred, the main highlight as we revisit the top exciting highlights from week 5 of IPL 2019.

IPL 2019 has reached the business end of the tournament, and at this stage, no team is out of contention of playoffs. Even RR and RCB can qualify for playoffs if they win all the matches and with some favorable P&C.

With less than 20 matches to go in the tournament, we are witnessing some extravagant batting and bowling display. The week 5 of IPL 2019 saw an MS Dhoni classic against RCB, a determined knock from Virat Kohli against KKR, a mature finish from Rishabh Pant and many more.

So, without wasting much time, let’s revisit the key highlights from week 5 of IPL 2019.

#5: AJINKYA RAHANE’S CLASSY HUNDRED GOES IN VAIN

After losing out on captaincy to Steve Smith, Ajinkya Rahane batted with a lot of freedom as he brought up his second century in IPL. 

Batting first at the home den against DC, Rahane looked positive but started slowly as he scored only 16 runs off his first 18 balls. However, a six off Axar Patel’s bowling gave him the much-needed impetus as he smashed 34 runs off his next 14 balls; thus reaching his fifty in just 32 balls.

Rahane continued with his classy batting post his fifty as he added another 25 runs from 12 balls. He didn’t play any outrageous shot as it was class written all over his batting. 

But, into the eighties, Rahane slowed down a little as he managed only 25 runs off the next 17 balls to end his innings on 105*(63) with 11 fours and 3 Sixes. 

Failing to accelerate in the end proved costly for RR as even after scoring 191 on the board, Delhi Capitals chased the target comfortably in the last over.

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#4: RISHABH PANT’S MATURE MATCH WINNING KNOCK AGAINST RR

The hard-hitting attacking batsman from Delhi usually goes about attacking from ball one. While it came good in the first match of the tournament, it has often got him and his side in trouble when he threw away his wicket when merely a run, a ball was required.

However, this all changed in the match against RR as he played a sensible and calculative knock in his unbeaten 78(36). 

Chasing 194, Delhi Capitals were off to a flier as Shikhar Dhawan smashed a superb 54 off just 27 deliveries. With 114 required of last 11 overs, Rishabh Pant joined Prithvi Shaw at the crease. He started slowly as he played out 7 balls before playing his first attacking shot.

The whole innings from Pant was a calculative measure as he didn’t try any outrageous shot but just waited for loose balls. Even then, he managed to score at a strike rate of above 200.

In the end, Rishabh Pant chased the target comfortably with his unbeaten 78*(36) with 6 fours and 4 sixes.

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#3: VIRAT KOHLI’S DETERMINED 100 AGAINST KKR

With AB de Villiers not in the team, a determined Virat Kohli played a special knock to help his side get two important points.

Batting first on a batting paradise, Virat Kohli played with caution initially as he mustered only 22 runs off his first 20 deliveries. After losing Akshdeep Nath in the ninth over, Virat Kohli played second fiddle to Moeen Ali.

Virat Kohli got to his 50 off 40 balls in the 15^th over as Moeen Ali was going bonkers at the other end. After losing Moeen, Virat Kohli changed his gears as he smashed 45 runs off the next 16 balls. In the end, Kohli managed to score a fantastic century off 58 deliveries with 9 fours and 4 sixes.

RCB eventually won the match by 10 runs as they somehow survived an incredible hitting of Andre Russell.

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Also Read: IPL 2019: Key Highlights from Week 4 | Part 1

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#2: ANDRE RUSSELL ALMOST PULLED OFF AN INCREDIBLE CHASE

An incredible, incredible effort from the monstrous, Andre Russell as he almost pulled off an impossible chase against RCB.

Chasing 214, KKR were stuttering at 81-4 in 12 overs. With 132 required of the last 12, Andre Russell joined Nitish Rana, who was batting on 33(23).

Andre Russel, who generally waits for few balls before smashing the bowlers didn’t wait this time as he hit the first six of the night on the second ball he faced.

With 113 required of the last 6 overs, Andre Russell whacked Piyush Chawla for 3 gigantic sixes. He didn’t stop there as he smashed another three continuos sixes to Stoinis in the 19^th over to lift KKR’s score to 190-4 in 19 overs.

An impossible chase looked possible with 24 needed off the final over. However, the dream was short-lived as unfortunately, Andre Russell got run-out after hitting another imperious six off Moeen Ali’s delivery.

Even though KKR lost the match, the knock from Andre Russell would certainly go down as one of the best knocks of IPL 2019.

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#1: MS DHONI’S MAGICAL 84(46) AGAINST RCB

One of the best innings of IPL 2019, and probably the best MS Dhoni innings as we witnessed a magical MS Dhoni classic at the Chinnaswamy stadium in Bangalore.

On a slightly tricky track, RCB managed to score 161-7 from 20 overs in their first innings. Parthiv Patel’s superb fifty guided RCB as the dynamic duo of Kohli and Abd failed to make an impression.

Chasing 162, CSK were in all sorts of bother as they were reduced to 28-4 in 5.5 overs. The situation looked perfect for another ‘deep chase’ MSD classic as he joined Ambati Rayudu at the crease as they both started consolidating.

The Moment came in the last over as the master of the last over assault, Dhoni smashed 4,6,6, 2 and 6 of his first five balls to score 24 runs off it.

With 2 required off 1 ball, It was almost expected of Dhoni to end the game with a six. But, to everyone’s surprise, Umesh bowled a brilliant slower ball, which Dhoni couldn’t hit. Parthiv Patel did an exceptional job at the other end as he ran Shardul Thakur out with a direct hit.

In the end, Dhoni remained not out on 84(48) with 5 fours and 7 sixes. Even though MSD couldn’t end the innings on a winning note, the innings had class written all over it as MSD almost pulled a classical MSD chase.

IPL 2019 STATS- 24 APR, 2019

1. Orange Cap:  574 (David Warner, SRH)
2. Purple Cap: 23 (Kagiso Rabada, DC)
3. Highest Score: 114* (56) (Jonny Bairstow, SRH)
4. Best Bowling: 6-12 (Alzarri Joseph, MI)

Thanks for reading! Which of the above mentioned IPL 2019 Week 5 highlights did you enjoy the most? Please, let’s know in the comments. 

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