In a searing opening spell that proved too hot to handle for Sunrisers Hyderabad’s opening duo, Rajasthan Royals’ Jofra Archer dismissed David Warner and Jonny Bairstow in successive overs in their IPL 2020 match in Dubai.
After his first two overs, Archer’s figures read 2-0-5-2, reducing Hyderabad to 16-2 inside the first three overs in their pursuit of 155. The first victim was David Warner, frozen on the backfoot, prodding at a length ball that moved into him. The ball caught a healthy edge and a diving Ben Stokes did the rest at second slip.
It had been an unplayable four-ball working over. Archer’s first two balls seamed away to beat the Australian’s bat, and the third found the edge but flew over the cordon for four.
Jonny Bairstow followed him soon after, completely missing the line of a delivery nipped back into him, losing his middle stump in the process.
Jofra Archer has bowled 174 balls above 140 Kph in #IPL2020 from 41.4 overs – that is some heat.
— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) October 22, 2020
Archer’s numbers so far in this IPL are phenomenal. After his deadly two-over spell, his dot balls this year stood at 130 in 41.4 overs, by far the most by a bowler. His economy rate of 6.55 is the best for a quick bowler who’s played at least ten games this season. Currently, he’s joint-third on the list of wicket-takers this season, having plucked 15 wickets so far.
Watch the dismissals in the dream opening spell:
David Warner c Ben Stokes b Jofra Archer
Drink it in…#IPL2020pic.twitter.com/pl24cjNATY
— Wisden (@WisdenCricket) October 22, 2020
Jofra Archer is world classpic.twitter.com/TxaDyAkpQJ
— Wisden (@WisdenCricket) October 22, 2020
If the video is not available due to restrictions, you can watch the wickets on the official IPL website here: (Warner, Bairstow)