David Warner extends incredible cricket record as Pat Cummins falters in IPL
The retired Australian opener set the platform to topple defending champions Chennai Super Kings with a quick-fire fifty.
David Warner has added to his incredible record in the Indian Premier League (IPL), setting a platform for the Delhi Capitals to topple defending champions Chennai Super Kings with a quick-fire fifty on Sunday in Visakhapatnam. Warner smashed three sixes and five fours in his masterful 35-ball 52 to help the Capitals reach a total of 5-191.
The 37-year-old was on fire before being dismissed by a world-class catch by Matheesha Pathirana. Warner had flicked a ball away off his pads only for a stunning one-handed catch at short fine leg from Pathirana to send him back to the pavilion. Fellow Aussie Mitch Marsh also began with ferocious intent but was undone by a superb yorker from Pathirana.
With another incredible knock, Warner brought up his 66th half-century in the competition, extending his lead to seven ahead of second-best, Virat Kohli on the all-time IPL leaderboard. The veteran was equally impressive in the field, taking a catch in the deep to remove Ajinkya Rahane (45 off 30) as he threatened to produce a comeback.
Warner's continued form in the IPL comes as he was surprisingly overlooked in The Hundred draft last month. The Australian left-hander, who recently retired from the Test scene, has travelled the world playing white-ball cricket since 2009 and has said his career from here on out is as a short-form specialist.
The 37-year-old wasn't the only big name to miss out on being picked up, however. England's 2019 World Cup-winning opening batter Jason Roy, New Zealand's Kane Williamson and Pakistan's Babar Azam were also unsold at the event.
Pat Cummins and Travis Head's Sunrisers Hyderabad thumped by Gujarat Titans
Pat Cummins and Travis Head didn't have as much success as their Australian counterparts, as their side, Sunrisers Hyderabad, were comprehensively beaten by the Gujarat Titans in Ahmedabad.
Head opened the batting at the same ground in which his incredible 137 led Australia to victory over India in the 50-over World Cup final in November, but couldn't reproduce the heroics in the IPL. He was the second batsman to fall, out for 19 off 14 balls and despite a late cameo from Abdul Samad (29 off 14), the Sunrisers failed to put up a defendable total. They ended 8-162, with no batter reaching 30.
In response, the Titans easily chased down the Sunrisers' score with seven wickets in hand. David Miller, despite an apparent muscle injury, led Gujarat to a comfortable win, chipping in with 44 off 27 balls and finishing with a six to chase down the total five balls to spare.
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Cummins (1-28) held himself back from bowling until the 11th over by which time Titans were 2-78. He dismissed Sai Sudharsan (45 off 36) in his third over but by that time the game was all but over with the Titans 2-138.
"It was a good match but we got 10-15 less," Cummins said after the loss. "They bowled well. Losing a couple of wickets meant we couldn't get a batter not making 50-plus. That was the difference. Today it was a case of wanting to start bowling late based on the conditions."
with AAP
