Rajasthan Royals (RR) captain Steve Smith hailed the "magnificent" duo of Ben Stokes and Sanju Samson after their outstanding third-wicket partnership helped clinched an important eight-wicket victory over defending champions Mumbai Indians (MI) on Sunday (October 25).
After a poor start to the tournament, Stokes made an unbeaten hundred (60-ball 107 not out) to revive himself and along with half-centurion Samson (54*), enabled RR's successful chase of MI's huge total of 195/5. Their 152-run stand came against one of the better attacks in the competition and sealed their team's crucial win with more than an over to spare in the run-chase.
"It was a good wicket the ball coming nicely at the bat, so I thought it was very chaseable. I thought we started off with good intent. Stoksey (Ben Stokes) was magnificent from the outset tonight, he took the game on and played really good cricket shots and hit the ball hard in the gaps," said Smith in the post-match press conference, as quoted by ANI.
"Our performance tonight was outstanding. Our batting for sensational, Sanju, and Stokes partnership was magnificent. In earlier games, we've not been able to put it together and that's what we're crying for. Hopefully, we can carry forward this confidence into the next games," he added.
Smith reserved special praise for Stokes, stressing how it wasn't at all easy for the all-rounder to walk into the tournament midway after a two-month break and that it was only a matter of time till he showcased his class.
"He was suffering in a couple of games with a sore back but I thought his intent from ball one today was magnificent," said Smith. "He came out and played some really nice cricket shots and took the game on and got himself going. Once he going he was hard to stop. I'm pleased that they were able to close the game out."
Yet, despite the win, not all was praiseworthy for Smith in RR's performance, as his bowlers went for plenty in the end-overs of the first half.
"We were a bit disappointed with our death over bowling. We dropped another catch, our fielding hasn't been up to the mark. That dropped catch was probably a 45 runs swing in the end. Hardik just went beserk in the end," he concluded.
Smith will still savour RR's fifth win in eleven outings, which keeps them alive in the intensifying race towards the playoffs. They next face Kings XI Punjab (KXIP) on Friday (October 30).
