IPL 2013: Shaun Marsh says victory was perfect send off for Adam Gilchrist
Dharamsala: May 19, 2013
Kings XI Punjab finished their Indian Premier League (IPL) 2013 season on a high and gave their captain Adam Gilchrist a nice farewell as they beat Mumbai Indians on Saturday in Dharamsala.
Australia’s Shaun Marsh scripted the win along with Azhar Mahmood as the duo put together a partnership worth 148 runs for the third wicket. Marsh scored a 47-ball 63 as Punjab beat Mumbai by an emphatic 50-run margin.
Gilchrist sealed off the match as he bowled one ball, which turned out to be the last ball of the match, and took the wicket of Harbhajan Singh. Once he took the wicket he broke into a ‘Gangnam Style’ dance.
Marsh said the victory over Mumbai was the perfect send off for Gilchrist. “It couldn’t have been scripted better at the end for him to get that wicket. It has been a fantastic three years with him,” said Marsh as reported by IPLT20.com.
“The Kings XI have really enjoyed having him around, he has been a world class player for so long and he is a fantastic bloke as well. He is a legend of the game! It was great to see him get the last wicket.”
The southpaw also said it was an honour to play alongside one of the greats of the game. “It is always a great honour and a thrill when you are walking out with Gilly.
“And he is someone that not only myself but some of the people look up to around the world and to get an opportunity to play with him. To get to know him a little bit better and become friends with him is something I will never forget.”
Marsh has also found some form in the IPL 2013 and said it was good to finish off on a winning note. “It is always nice to do well and score a few runs and see wins and that’s the main thing. It was nice to finish off on a nice positive note personally and for the team as well.”
He was a little more philosophical about Punjab’s failure to reach the play offs this season. “We probably didn’t start well, and we lost a few games in the middle as well that put us on the back-foot a bit.
“In the end, coming in the last few games, we had to rely on other results and that’s how we did it and this position we put ourselves in. We have no one else to blame but ourselves.
“We take a lot of positives out of it as well, from the way we finished. Against the bigger teams we came close to beating them. It gives us a lot of confidence moving forward, I think.”
He also had praise reserved for countryman David Hussey, who captained Punjab in some matches this season. “He is one of the great players around. He is probably one of the best T20 players in the world and to get a chance to play with him and to learn stuff off him is fantastic. I am glad to be able to spend a lot of fun time with him.”
Looked as a more classical batsman, Marsh said he did not feel the need to alter his batting technique or approach for T20 cricket. “I just know that I have to play to my strengths and if I do that and hopefully by the end of the innings if I am still around and I can put the team in a good position.
“I love playing T20 cricket, I love playing in front of big crowds and it was a nice way to finish on Saturday night.”
Marsh has been part of the Punjab team for six years and he concluded by saying, “I love the Kings XI, I love the franchise. I love the people, I love the owners. It is a great place to play cricket, very friendly people and it has been a lot of fun, the last six years.”