On the night when it mattered the most, Jonny Bairstow made his presence felt and how! The English cricketer’s 66 (29) set up the stage for a massive 54-run win for PBKS against RCB.
The win at the Brabourne Stadium gave the Kings 2 crucial points, getting them closer to a possible spot in the playoffs of the Tata Indian Premier League 2022.
Bairstow’s knock came with four fours and seven big sixes as he struck at 227.59 to speed up PBKS’ scoreboard and help pull a double over RCB this season. RCB’s pacers took stick in particular with Hazlewood and Siraj combining to concede 100 in 6 wicketless overs.
Bairstow’s destructive display got him his half-century in 21 balls while helping the Kings post the highest score in the powerplay in IPL 2022 of 83/1. After the game, he admitted he enjoyed batting up the order, and we can safely say that we loved seeing him back in form.
Netizens took to Twitter to express their admiration for the wicketkeeper-batter from England.
That is Jonny bairstow at peak of his powers. So good to watch
— Muavvaz (@_FrontfootPull) May 13, 2022
I just checked bairstows strike rate and I can confirm the real Jonny bairstow is still alive #IPL2022
— MyesaAziz (@myesaazizz) May 13, 2022
There’s nobody in the world like Jonny Bairstow when he hits top level. Fast starts, fast middle overs, pace spin everything will go. That’s why Punjab backed backed and backed him
— Dave (@CricketDave27) May 13, 2022
This is just sheer destruction by Jonny Bairstow - 83/1 in the Powerplay.
— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) May 13, 2022
Some interesting numbers came out too
Players to hit 7 6s in an IPL Powerplay
— CricBeat (@Cric_beat) May 13, 2022
Sanath Jayasuriya vs CSK (2008)
Jonny Bairstow vs RCB (2022)*#RCBvPBKS
#QuickByte: Batters to average 70+ and strike above 170 against a team - Min 200 runs
— Cricket.com (@weRcricket) May 13, 2022
AB de Villiers - 116.5 avg & 184.9 vs GL
Chris Gayle - 95.8 avg & 199.5 vs PWI
Hardik Pandya - 91 avg & 185.7 vs RR
Jonny Bairstow - 73.7 avg & 178.2 vs RCB #IPL2022 | #CricketTwitter pic.twitter.com/tBJBYzk0RG
Most Sixes in an innings in #IPL2022
— ComeOn Cricket 🏏🇮🇳 (@ComeOnCricket) May 13, 2022
8: Andre Russell vs PBKS
8: Shivam Dube vs RCB
7: Jonny Bairstow vs RCB*
6: Pat Cummins vs MI#RCBvPBKS
Fastest fifty in IPL 2022 (by balls):
— SportsAmaze (@Sports_amaze) May 13, 2022
14 - Pat Cummins
21 - Liam Livingstone
21 - Rahul Tripathi
21 - Jonny Bairstow*
23 - Evin Lewis
23 - Jos Buttler#RCBvPBKS
After a 56 (40) in the last game against Rajasthan Royals, Bairstow has now backed it up with another half-century. This time, it came with a better strike rate and a winning cause. With two crucial must-win games left to play, the Punjab Kings and the Sher Squad alike will want to see more of these from the English batter.