(UTV|COLOMBO) – Australian Ashton Turner became the first man in Twenty20 history to make five consecutive ducks as he fell first ball in the Indian Premier League.
It was the third successive IPL golden duck for the 26-year-old, who batted at number five for Rajasthan Royals.
Team-mate Ajinkya Rahane, the India batsman, struck their side’s highest IPL score with an unbeaten 105.
Last month Turner hit 84 against India in a one-day international and he has played three ODIs and five T20s.
His unbeaten one-day innings in Chandigarh broke the run of T20 ducks, which began with a first-ball dismissal in the Big Bash League in February and was followed by a five-ball nought for Australia against India.
The Royals, captained by Australian Steve Smith and featuring England all-rounder Ben Stokes and newcomer Jofra Archer, lost the match against Delhi Capitals by six wickets with four deliveries left.
Smith compiled his second successive fifty, though Stokes made only eight and has scored a modest 112 runs in eight innings in this year’s event, with a best of 46.
Archer clipped the stumps with a full toss but the bails stayed in place and he finished with 0-31 from his four overs.
The 24-year-old Sussex all-rounder took 11 wickets in his 10 matches but he and Stokes now head home to prepare for England’s one-day series against Pakistan, beginning on 8 May, which is preceded by a one-off match with Ireland on 3 May.
Barbados-born Archer, 24, qualified to play for England in March after a change in residency rules.
He was not selected in a preliminary 15-man World Cup squad but could still be chosen if he impresses in the pre-tournament matches as changes can be made up to 23 May.
India left-hander Rishabh Pant won Monday’s match in Jaipur with a six as the Capitals moved to the top of the table on net run-rate, although they have played a game more than second-placed Chennai Super Kings.
The Royals are one place off the foot of the table, eight points behind the leaders, with the top four teams qualifying for the play-off phase, which starts on 7 May.
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