Faf du Plessis to Shahbaz Ahmed – top performances for RCB vs LSG

When you take on the Giants who have actually been in phenomenal touch, it needs a lot more than just a string of decent displays to define the kind of spirits that is flying high in your dugout. Despite a string of sloppy showdowns from the Challengers’ top-order, if there is one thing that has been consistent in the shed, it is their never-give-up attitude.

In one similar display of such resolute mettle, the Challengers ripped through the ranks of the Super Giants in what one would call a clinical display of vision, aggression and some bedazzling captaincy. 

1. Faf du Plessis

The man who was helplessly seeing the wickets tumble at the other end, took his own sweet time, got his eyes in and then started attacking the opposition back. He frequently got on top of the balls, playing some exotic strokes that had his intentions of making a comeback very clear. He didn’t play one miscued strike and played the instrumental role of upping the run-rate when Shahbaz played a silent spectator at the other end. By the time he was done, he had already garnered 96 runs from just 64 balls.

2. Josh Hazlewood

The Australian quick has already established himself as a major moniker in the ranks of RCB and the domination has come in just three games. After bowling a decent spell against Chennai where the other bowlers went for a toss, he was just brilliant against the Delhi Capitals. However, if that was a prelude to madness, then his showdown against the Giants was simply the madness itself. He claimed 4 important wickets that starred the likes of Quinton de Kock, Manish Pandey, Ayush Badoni and Marcus Stoinis. More importantly, he kept things very tight as he bowled a spell of 4 overs from which he just conceded 25 runs.

3. Shahbaz Ahmed

Probably in the ocean of such illustrious numbers, mapping his innings of 26 from 22 balls can be a let down for the ones who love numbers but for the ones who understand cricket, they would know that this was the match-defining knock for RCB. Faf did get off to a start but somehow his partners would not assist him in putting up a show. It was Shahbaz’s calmness that helped the Challengers turn the tide from where Faf and DK propelled them to 181.