A collapse cost Cumbrian Ben Stokes’ Rajasthan Royals who fell to a 14-run defeat in their opening 2019 Indian Premier League fixture.

Stokes, from Cockermouth, and England team-mate Jos Buttler both had an impact on the match, but the controversial “Mankad” of Buttler by Kings XI Punjab’s Ravi Ashwin proved to a major turning point.

Having won the toss and elected to bowl first, all-rounder Stokes bowled his four allocated overs and ended with figure of 2-48, dismissing West Indian star Chris Gayle and Nicolas Pooran.

But 27-year-old Stokes had only dismissed opener Gayles, caught on the boundary by Rahul Tripathi, after he had scored a 47-ball 79 to lead Kings XI Punjab to 184/4 from their 20 overs. Stokes’ England team-mate Jofra Archer, meanwhile, ended with figures of 0-17.

Lancashire player Buttler led the way for Rajasthan in their run-chase as he struck 12 boundaries, including two sixes, in his 69 which was supported by fellow opener Ajinkya Rahane (27), Sanju Samson (30) and Australian Steve Smith (20) who is nearing the end of a year’s ban from top-class cricket after being found guilty of ball-tampering.

But 28-year-old Buttler reacted furiously when he was run out, backing up at the non-striker’s end. At that stage, the Rajasthan Royals still appeared well-placed as they sat 148-2.

However, England all-rounder Sam Curran got the wicket of Smith to spark a Royals collapse.

Although Stokes struck his first ball for six, he was then caught by substitute Karun Nair off the bowling of Mujeeb Ur Rahman with the very next ball at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium today. And none of Rajasthan’s other players were able to get into double figures as they stumbled to 170-9.

They play Sunrisers Hyderabad on Friday.