The decision to ask the most powerful top order in world cricket to set a target has backfired on David Warner, with Royal Challengers Bangalore handing his Sunrisers side an Indian Premier League thrashing.
Warner won the toss in Bangalore on Tuesday night, but his decision to chase did not go to plan as Virat Kohli (75 off 51) and AB de Villiers (82 off 42) set about posting a monster target.
The pair put on 157 for the second wicket as the star-studded RCB, who also boast Chris Gayle and Australian Shane Watson among their top four, finished on 4-227 from their 20 overs - to set up a 45-run victory.
Proteas star de Villiers was particularly destructive, blasting seven fours and six sixes in a superb innings.
Cameos from Watson, who blasted three straight sixes in his eight-ball 19, and youngster Sarfaraz Khan (35no off 10) rounded out the massive score.
Warner played a lone hand in response, smashing 58 off 25 deliveries before being caught in the deep after misjudging a bouncer from Watson (2-30).
His exit, however, signalled an end for the Sunrisers' hopes as the visitors fell well short of the target, posting 6-182.
Fellow Australian Moises Henriques struggled at the top of the order, taking 23 balls to reach 19 after finishing with the figures of 0-41 having bowled through much of the de Villiers onslaught.
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