tawandamusarurwa
IT might not have been the debut Sikandar Raza envisioned en route to the sub-continent for the India Premier League, especially after that rousing reception by the Punjabi Kings fans upon his arrival.
However, the 36-year-old Chevrons’ all-rounder yesterday received his cap from Kings Shikhar Dhawan and effectively joined Raymond Price, Tatenda Taibu and Brendan Taylor as the only Zimbabweans to grace the prestigious Twenty20 tournament.
Best yet, the Zimbabwean international got his maiden IPL campaign off to a winning start, as the Kings emerged victors over the Kolkata Knight Riders by seven runs under Duckworth Lewis Method.
Raza contributed with both bat and ball, as the Punjab Kings were sent in to bat and raced to 195 runs for five during their allotted 20 overs, a total that proved too heavy an ask for the opposition.
The Zimbabwean talisman chipped in with 16 runs off 13 balls, before taking one for 25 runs to help restrict the Knight Riders to 146 for seven before rain interrupted play.
He was also instrumental in removing Andre Russell, whose 35 runs off 19 balls almost breathed new life into the Knight Riders’ run-chase.
The West Indies power hitter was caught at deep mid-wicket by Raza off the bowling of Sam Curran, who coincidentally has Zimbabwean roots.
However, in all fairness, Kolkata Knight Riders were really in the hunt for victory as they were behind the run of play against Kings for most of the contest.
Chasing 192, they were 80 for five, with a victory looking like a bleak possibility.
That is when Andre Russell and Venkatesh Iyer stitched together a partnership that appeared to take them ahead in the match for the first time.
Russell’s six and four off Sam Curran brought the equation down to 62 needed from 32 with the balance of power shifting.
It also brought Knight Riders closer to the DLS target with rain hovering around Mohali.
But Russell fell next ball to Curran and Venkatesh perished in the next over.
And the DLS ballooned beyond reach.
Despite Shardul Thakur and Sunil Narine scoring 15 off five balls between them, Kings held on to stay ahead, and when the rain finally stopped play, the DLS table showed the hosts were seven ahead, just enough to pocket two points in their season opener.
Knight Riders were behind the DLS target because of their loss of wickets up top.
Arshdeep Singh was the wrecker-in-chief with the new ball, helping reduce Knight Riders to 29 for three.
He also dismissed Venkatesh later to finish with three for 19 in three overs.
Prior to that, the Kings were excellent with the bat, especially Bhanuka Rajapaksa, who made a 32-ball 50.
His knock lifted Kings to 100 for one in 10 overs, but they failed to get a boost at the death, finishing only on 191 for five.
At the time, it looked like a score that was just about par on a batting-friendly surface.
And, in the end, it turned out to be enough. — Cricinfo/Sports Reporter
Online Reporter