Published: Apr 18, 2017, 09:42 AM (IST)
Edited: Apr 18, 2017, 09:46 AM (IST)
Kings XI Punjab (KXIP) might have lost a winning game by mere 5 runs in Match 19 of IPL 2017, but one man played a lone battle. Manan Vohra who opened the innings at 84 for 6, fought a spectacular battle going all guns blazing at 50-ball 95 that comprised of 9 fours and 5 sixes. Vohra smashed a six and four in the 15th over off Brinder Sran. He plundered 21 runs from the 16th over that was bowled by star Afghan leg-spinner Rashid Khan. Vohra picked up the deceptive googlies well and took them to the cleaners. But with Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) boasting of best death bowlers, KXIP could not defend the 11 runs off the final over and lost another game. FULL CRICKET SCORECARD: Sunrisers Hyderabad vs Kings XI Punjab – Match 19
Speaking to the reporters during the post-match conference, Vohra explained on what went wrong, “I think we really did well with our ball. We stopped them for 160-odd runs. The wicket was a bit batting friendly. It was slower on one side but we could have managed to get more runs. Bowlers as well as fielders did their job. We just lost our way in between in the early stages. I just prayed to God that if we could close from there. But I got great opportunity to finish the game, unfortunately could not do that.”
Vohra was the top-scorer and explained how he panned his innings, “When I was around the 30s, I just tried to focus a bit hard. It has been my fifth edition of IPL and I have never been converting so well. I wanted to bat for around14-15 overs. I knew I would be able to convert the runs then. If I get a good start we can be in a comfortable position. But with Hashim Amla and Glenn Maxwell gone early, I had to cover my game. Eoin Morgan and I planned to just take the game forward, playing normal cricketing shots.”
Glenn Maxwell, who enters to play in the middle-order, was seen playing as No. 3 batsmen. On the same, Vohra commented, “It is not a big concern. We just wanted to give Maxwell maximum opportunity because he is our main striker. The more he will be in, the more chances of finishing the game. These are the strategies that keep changing.”
