Kyle Jamieson (INR 15 crore) and Glenn Maxwell (INR 14.25 crore), two of Royal Challengers Bangalore's biggest buys in the IPL 2021 Auction, failed for a second-successive T20I in the ongoing series between New Zealand and Australia, triggering a series of memes on Twitter.
In the second game in Dunedin, Jamieson registered figures of 0/56, while Maxwell was dismissed on 3 off five deliveries.
In the first T20I, the Australian all-rounder could score only 1 run, while Jamieson conceded 32 runs for a wicket in three overs.
However, the silver lining for RCB was the performance of Daniel Sams in the second match. The all-rounder almost steered Australia to an incredible win, scoring 41 off just 15 deliveries during the ending overs of the 220-run chase.
The franchise had secured Sams in a trade with Delhi Capitals ahead of the auction.
New Zealand rode on opener Martin Guptill's whirlwind 97 off 50 balls and then staved off a late challenge from Australia led by Marcus Stoinis to win the second T20I by four runs.
Here's how Twitter reacted:
In what was a run feast of a match, Guptill's innings propelled New Zealand to 219/7 but Stoinis and Daniel Sams led a late charge from the visitors and their innings ended on 215/8.
Spinner Mitchell Santner chipped in with four wickets, three of which came in the 13th over. All-rounder James Neesham, who hit six sixes in his unbeaten 16-ball 45, took the all-important wickets of Sams and Stoinis in the last over of the match.
New Zealand now lead the five-match T20I series 2-0. The third match will be played in Wellington on March 3.
Brief scores: New Zealand 219/7 in 20 overs (Martin Guptill 97, Kane Williamson 53; Kane Richardson 3/43) beat Australia 215/8 (Marcus Stoinis 78, Josh Philippe 45; Mitchell Santner 4/31) by four runs
