The league stage of the 2019 IPL season saw some brilliant innings which stood out. After 56 league matches, Chennai Super Kings, Mumbai Indians, Delhi Capitals and Sunrisers Hyderabad have qualified for the playoffs stage.
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In the 56 league matches, the crowd and people around the world witnessed some sensational batting from Indian and foreign batsmen who just showed their class and lit the stadium. In every match of the league stage, there was an innings which made the difference of winning the match or sometimes lose the match.
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Here we look at the Top 6 innings of the league stage in IPL 2019
1. Sanju Samson 102* against Sunrisers Hyderabad
The young talented wicketkeeper from Kerala, Sanju Samson scored the first century of VIVO IPL 2019. Playing for Rajasthan Royals, he scored 102* against Sunrisers Hyderabad at Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, Hyderabad on 29th March 2019.
Sanju Samson took time to settle and reached his fifty off 34 balls. He along with Rahane added 119 runs for the 2nd-second wicket. After the dismissal of Rahane’s wicket, Samson took on SRH bowlers especially Bhuvneshwar Kumar taking him for 24 runs in the 18th over. He then reached his century off 54 balls and remained not out on 102 off 55 balls. His knock helped RR to reach 198 for 2 in 20 overs.
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Despite Sanju Samson’s knock, David Warner and Jonny Bairstow took the game away from Rajasthan Royals bowlers. Sunrisers Hyderabad won the match by 5 wickets with 1 over to spare.
2. David Warner 100* against Royal Challengers Bangalore
(Photo by: Faheem Hussain /SPORTZPICS/BCCI/IPL)
After missing last year’s IPL season due to ball tampering scandal, the left-handed explosive batsman from Australia, David Warner was simply sensational for Sunrisers Hyderabad along with Jonny Bairstow.
Before leaving for Australia, Warner scored 692 runs from 12 matches with 1 century and 8 half-centuries to his name. In the league stage match against Royal Challengers Bangalore at Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, Hyderabad on 31st March 2019, Warner and Bairstow put consistent pressure on RCB bowlers.
(Photo by: Faheem Hussain /SPORTZPICS/ BCCI/IPL)
After Bairstow reached his fifty off 28 balls, Warner too reached his fifty off 32 balls. Both Warner and Bairstow made the batting look easy and added 185 runs for the opening wicket which is the highest for the opening wicket in IPL.
Bairstow was dismissed for a brilliant 114. Warner reached his century off 54 balls and remained not out on 100. Bairstow and Warner’s knocks helped SRH post a massive total of 231 for 2. SRH won the match by a massive 118 runs as they bowled out RCB for 113 in 19.5 overs.
3. Hardik Pandya 91 against Kolkata Knight Riders
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Hardik Pandya played one of the best innings in IPL 2019 against Kolkata Knight Riders at Eden Gardens on 28th April 2019. Chasing a massive target of 232 runs to win set by KKR, Mumbai Indians were struggling at 58 for 4.
Hardik Pandya came to the crease and just took on Kolkata Knight Riders bowlers right from the word go. He was simply sensational with his batting and reached his fifty off just 17 balls. After reaching his fifty, Hardik showed his class and gave a chance for Mumbai Indians to win the match.
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He along with his brother Krunal Pandya added 64 runs for the 6th wicket. Hardik Pandya was dismissed for a brilliant 91 off 34 balls with 6 fours and 9 sixes with a strike rate of 267.64. Mumbai Indians lost the match by 34 runs as KKR restricted MI to 198 for 7 in 20 overs.
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Hardik Pandya has been in sensational form for Mumbai Indians in this year’s IPL with 380 runs from 14 matches with a strike rate of 198.95. With the ball, he has taken so far 14 wickets from 14 matches with an economy of 9.46 runs. He would play a key role for Mumbai Indians with both bat and ball in the playoff stage.
4. Kieron Pollard 83 off 31 balls against Kings XI Punjab
(Photo by: Vipin Pawar /SPORTZPICS/BCCI/IPL)
The West Indies hard-hitting batsman played a sensational knock against Kings XI Punjab at Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai on 10th April 2019. In the absence of Rohit Sharma, Pollard was named as the captain of the match.
Thanks to KL Rahul brilliant 100 and Chris Gayle 63, Kings XI Punjab scored 197 for 4 in 20 overs. Chasing the target of 198 runs to win, Mumbai Indians were struggling at 62 for 3. Pollard promoted himself and just took on the Kings XI Punjab bowlers. He was simply sensational with his hitting reaching his fifty off 22 balls.
It was an amazing batting display by Pollard who smashed every Kings XI Punjab bowlers. With the run rate climbing, he just transferred so much pressure on Sam Curran and every other KXIP. He was dismissed in the final over with a brilliant 83 off 31 balls with 3 fours and 10 sixes with a strike rate of 267.74.
Pollard was named as the man of the match for his captains knock and took Mumbai Indians to a thrilling 3 wicket win.
5. Andre Russell 80* off 40 balls against Mumbai Indians
Andre Russell was one of the most successful players for Kolkata Knight Riders in IPL 2019. He had scored 510 runs from 14 matches with an amazing strike rate of 204.81. KKR were knocked out in the league stage after losing to Mumbai Indians in a do or die match.
Playing match-winning knocks for KKR in this year’s IPL, Andre Russell scored a powerful 80 off 40 balls against Mumbai Indians at Eden Gardens on 28th April 2019. After being sent into bat, KKR openers Chris Lynn and Shubman Gill added 96 runs for the opening wicket in 9.3 overs. Andre Russell who was promoted to number 3, proved his power hitting and took on Mumbai Indians bowlers.
Andre Russell reached his fifty off 30 balls and just smashed Mumbai Indian bowlers to all parts of the ground. His knock off 80 not out off 40 balls included 6 fours and 8 sixes with a strike rate of 200 helped KKR post a massive total of 232 for 2 in 20 overs. He was named as the man of the match for his all-round performance.
6. Shane Watson 96 against Sunrisers Hyderabad
Shane Watson had a disappointing IPL season in the league stage so far for Chennai Super Kings. He has scored so far 258 runs from 14 matches with only 1 half-century.
The explosive right-handed batsman from Australia, Shane Watson scored 96 off 53 balls with 9 fours and 6 sixes. Chasing the target of 176 runs to win, Watson struggled in the first few overs. After settling in, the explosive batsman took on Sunrisers Hyderabad bowlers. He reached his fifty off 35 balls and put on 77 runs for the 2nd wicket with Suresh Raina.
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Watson almost took CSK through to the finishing line but was dismissed by Bhuvneshwar Kumar for a brilliant 96. His innings helped CSK win the match by 6 wickets with 1 ball to spare. He was named as the man of the match-winning knock.