New Delhi: By virtue of price and fame, Ben Stokes was supposed to trump his English compatriot Jos Buttler when they face off in the Indian Premier League (IPL), but it was the wicketkeeper-batsman who drew first blood.


COMMERCIAL BREAK
SCROLL TO CONTINUE READING

On Thursday, the flamboyant cricketers turned up for two different franchises in the second match of the 2017 IPL – Buttler for Mumbai Indians, and Stokes for Rising Pune Supergiant – in Pune.


Pune skipper Steve Smith won the toss, and asked Mumbai to bat first.


Opening with Parthiv Patel, Buttler gave a good start to Mumbai innings, forcing Smith to make bowling changes in a haste.


Smith gave the ball to the costliest player in IPL 10 in the fourth over, and for the first time, it's Stokes vs Buttler in any T20 game.


Stokes produced two dot balls, then Buttler responded with a six over long-on. It was followed by another six, this time disdainfully scooped straight over the wicketkeeper. The ball sailed over the boundary for back-to-back six. It certainly was one of the most fascinating shots ever seen in a cricket match.


Here's the video



Buttler made 38 off 19 balls, and was unluckily given out to a non-existent LBW to Imran Tahir. The visitors made 184/8 in their allotted 20 overs, thanks to a late blitz from Hardik Pandya, who scored 35 off 15 balls.