Smith and Samson celebrity as Rajasthan defeat Chennai in IPL six-fest
Skipper Steve Smith cracked a match-winning 69 in Rajasthan Royal's starting Indian Premier League video game on Tuesday that produced a record-equalling 33 sixes in the Twenty20 tournament.
Smith, who faced concussion fears getting into the IPL, put on a key 121-go second-wicket partnership with Sanju Samson, who smashed 74, to steer Royals to 216 for seven and a 16-run make an impression on Chennai Super Kings found in Sharjah.
South African veteran Faf du Plessis manufactured a valiant 72 off 37 balls with seven sixes but Chennai, led by Mahendra Singh Dhoni, ended about 200 for six on 20 overs.
Chennai were involved in another six-striking fest against Royal Challengers Bangalore in the 2018 edition that also found 33 sixes.
Australian Smith opened up the innings for Royals, inaugural IPL winners in 2008, and after the loss of the primary wicket it was raining sixes with Samson hitting nine of them in his 32-ball blitz.
"Total pleasure to bat with him. He's the world's best batsman," said Samson, who raised his 50 in just 19 balls and strike nine sixes in his knock.
"And when he goes out and bats 20 overs, it becomes easy for the others to arrive."
Smith got four hits above the fence and Jofra Archer smacked four in the final to help Royals get 30 works off South African rapid Lungi Ngidi.
"They batted really well. Steve and Sanju. You should give credit with their bowlers also," Dhoni, who remained unbeaten on 29, said following the loss.
Smith passed a concussion evaluation in the United Arab Emirates when he joined his IPL group after missing three one-day fits in England following a hit on the helmet during practice.
The much-delayed IPL, that was originally scheduled to begin in March, moved out of India as a result of coronavirus pandemic and is being played nowadays.
But Jay Shah, secretary of the Board of Control for Cricket in India, said the popular league had the best ever opening working day viewership for just about any sporting league across the globe when 200 million persons tuned to view Chennai defeat Mumbai Indians on September 19.
