IPL WEEK 8 WRAP: More batting records in fun feast

The Rajasthan Royals opened up an unprecedented six-point lead at the top of the log with five matches still to play. Remarkably, the Royals have already qualified for the playoff stages with eight wins from their first nine matches.

The table-toppers walloped the Mumbai Indians by nine wickets with an unbeaten century from opener Yashasvi Jaiswal and beat the Lucknow Super Giants almost as comfortably, by seven wickets, with 71 not out from captain Sanju Samson.

But the individual batting highlights were provided by two Englishmen. Kolkata Knight Riders believed they were ‘safe’, having posted a daunting 261 for six against Punjab Kings, but Jonny Bairstow masterminded a world-record T20 run-chase with an unbeaten 108 from a mere 48 balls with eight fours and nine sixes.

Compatriot Will Jacks was even faster to three figures as bottom-of-the-log Royal Challengers Bengaluru, replying to a total of 200 for three, destroyed the Gujarat Titans by nine wickets with four overs to spare, with Jacks crunching 10 sixes to finish 100 not out from just 41 balls.

Australian Jake Fraser-McGurk was comfortably placed to record the fastest-ever T20 hundred when he reached 84 from a mere 26 balls for Delhi Capitals against Mumbai Indians but was caught from the 27th ball looking for a seventh six to go with 11 fours. Tristan Stubbs applied the finishing touches to Delhi’s innings with 48* from 25 balls.

SO CLOSE FOR MILLER AND THE TITANS

David Miller almost manufactured a remarkable victory for the Titans with 55 runs from 23 balls (6x4, 3x6) against Delhi before they fell just four runs short. But at least it was another Proteas batsman in form.

SA player of the week: Tristan Stubbs. He has always had the power and ability to hit straight but the work he has done on creative variations is paying off handsomely, allowing him to become more of a ‘360’ player.

Team of the week: Rajasthan Royals. Whether chasing or defending, they have the balance to win. But they are also proof that, contrary to popular perception, bowlers win more T20 matches than batters. They just don’t get the credit or the headlines.

Best batsman: Will Jacks and Jake Fraser-McGurk. Both had to wait for their opportunities and both have grabbed their chance emphatically.

Best bowler: Jasprit Bumrah. In an ailing Mumbai Indians team, he has been a rock of consistency – and economy.

Top talking point: Too many boundaries? Bats too big, and boundaries too small? See what a former England spinner had to say below...

Quote of the Week: “All this talk that there are too many runs being scored, that the bats are too big and the boundaries too small, it’s nonsense. It’s up to the bowlers to adapt and get better.” – Retired English offspinner turned commentator, Graeme Swann.

What to watch out for: Sunrisers Hyderabad v Rajasthan Royals, in Hyderabad, on Thursday. The most devastating batting lineup in the tournament against the best bowling attack.