Rovman Powell showcased remarkable athleticism with a phenomenal diving catch at deep midwicket marking the end of Faf du Plessis leadership for Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) during the IPL 2024 Eliminator on Wednesday May 22. The talented opener departed after scoring 17 runs off 14 deliveries at the iconic Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.
Virat Kohli and du Plessis had got RCB off to a fantastic start, but Trent Boult’s opening stint with the new ball posed a challenge. They were attempting to alter gears after facing Avesh Khan in the third over, when Sanju Samson bravely bowled Boult his third over in a row.
The left-arm pacer had kept things tight, leaving no room for the hitters and keeping both fielders outside the circle on the leg side. du Plessis attempted a pull shot against a short ball from Boult but was unable to clear it. Rovman Powell, stationed in the deep, had a lot to do as the ball threatened to settle in front of him.
Rovman Powell ace charged in at full speed and dived forward to capture the ball inches above the ground. Rovman Powell didn’t let his body contact with the ground spill the ball, resulting in a clean catch confirmed by the third umpire. Take a look at this outstanding bit of fielding right here:
du Plessis’ knock included two fours and a six, and his exit left RCB on 37-1 in the fifth over, with Cameron Green coming in at No. 3.
RCB look to repair the innings after Faf du Plessis’ dismissal
Virat Kohli faced Sandeep Sharma in the last over, helping RCB score 50 runs in the powerplay. So far, the opener appears to be in good form. With the middle order also in strong form, the Royal Challengers will look to produce a dominant total, beginning with the middle overs.
RR have employed spin at both ends, with Ravichandran Ashwin starting with a tight over that yielded only six runs. As of writing, RCB are 56-1 after seven overs.
