IPL 2018: Lowest Powerplay scores in this edition so far

The Powerplays is one of the crucial stages of a T20 game. With the fielding restrictions in play, the teams usually target the first six overs in a bid to set-up their innings for a big score.

Having said that, due to a combination of good fast bowling and erratic display of shots by the batsmen, teams tend to lose the plot and end up with a substandard powerplay score.

The 2018 season of the IPL has witnessed a plethora of instances where teams have failed to gather momentum, and have ended up with low scores in the first six-overs.

On that note, Here's a look at the lowest powerplay scores thus far in Vivo IPL 2018:

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#5 39, by Mumbai Indians vs Chennai Super Kings, Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai

Mumbai could only register 39 runs during the Powerplay.

It was the opener of the 2018 season where the Mumbai Indians, the defending champions, hosted the Chennai Super Kings at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.

Mumbai batted first and lost Evin Lewis (0) and Rohit Sharma (15) in quick succession. While they recovered valiantly on the back of a valiant 78 run partnership between Kishan (40) and Suryakumar Yadav (43), they could only register 39 runs during the Powerplay.

Kishan (40), Yadav (43) and Krunal Pandya (41) the proceeded to revive Mumbai and helped them post a respectable 4-165 in their 20 overs, and they looked well on course of defending that successfully when they had CSK on the ropes at 8-118 in 16.3 overs, but were denied by a rampaging Bravo, who stroked a pristine 68 off 30 balls, and was helped by an injured Jadhav, who smacked two boundaries in the last over to script a memorable 1 wicket win for CSK.

#4 35, by Rajasthan Royals vs Chennai Super Kings, M.C.A Stadium, Pune

It was a massacre at the M.C.A stadium in Pune

It was a massacre at the M.C.A stadium in Pune, as the vile all-rounder Shane Watson went hammer and tongs against an insipid Rajasthan bowling attack, and stroked a mastery hundred, to lead his team to an emphatic total of 5-204.

Chasing 206, Rajasthan got off to a lackluster start thanks to the opening duo of Chahar (2-30) and Shardul Thakur (2-18) accounted for Rahane, Klaasen and Sanju Samson inside five overs, and hence could only muster 35 runs in the powerplay.

The Royals never really recovered from the early jolts and though Ben Stokes (45) tries valiantly, they could only muster 140 runs and were bowled out in 18.3 overs.

#3 28, by Delhi Daredevils vs Royal Challengers Bangalore, M.Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru

Delhi has been subjected to insipid start at the top of the innings

In the wake of the poor form of former skipper Gautam Gambhir and inconsistency of Jason Roy, Delhi has been subjected to insipid start at the top of the innings, and their previous game against the RCB was no exception.

Chahal and Umesh accounted for Gambhir (3) and Roy (5) pretty cheapy and although Delhi recovered on the back of superlative knocks of Pant (85) and Iyer (52), they could only muster 28 runs in the Powerplay, which eventually proved to be the difference in the end as RCB riding on the back of de Villiers (90 off 39 balls) brilliance romped home with six wickets still in the bag.

#2 27, by Chennai Super Kings vs Sunrisers Hyderabad, Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, Hyderabad

CSK could only muster a mere 27 runs in the first 6 overs.

It was a hot day in Hyderabad when CSK decided to start with a new opening pair in du Plessis and Shane Watson.

While du Plessis looked rusty, Watson, who had scored a wonderful hundred in the previous game, looked out of sorts against Bhuvi and Stanlake. The opening duo of Bhuvi and Stanlake bowled in the right channels, not allowing the batsmen to break free. Bhuvi eventually accounted for Watson with the knuckleball, and though Chennai recovered on the back of brilliant counter-attack by Rayudu (79 off 37 balls) and Suresh Raina (54 off 43 balls), they could only muster a mere 27 runs in the first 6 overs.

Rayudu and Raina's counter-attack took Chennai to 3-182 in 20 overs. Sunrisers got off to a disastrous start and were reduced to 3-22 thanks to some incisive bowling from Deepak Chahar (3-15 in 4 overs), and though Williamson (840, Pathan (45), and Rashid (17 off 4 balls) tried valiantly, the hosts fell short by four runs, to taste their second successive defeat of the tournament.

#1 22, by Mumbai Indians vs Sunrisers Hyderabad, Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai

It was another disappointing night at the Vivo IPL 2018 for the Mumbai Indians

It was another disappointing night at the Vivo IPL 2018 for the Mumbai Indians, as they plummeted to a 31 run loss to the 2016 IPL champions Sunrisers Hyderabad.

After restricting SRH to 118 thanks to an all-round bowling performance by Markande (2-15), McClenaghan (2-22), and Hardik Pandya (2-20).

Chasing 119, Mumbai got off to a dismal start with Lewis (5), Kishan (0), and Rohit Sharma (2) all falling cheaply. Consequently, Mumbai could only muster 22 runs in the mandatory powerplay, and though Suryakumar Yadav (34) and Krunal Pandya (24) tried valiantly, Mumbai was eventually bowled out for 87.