IPL 2017: Kerala Speedster Basil Thampi Makes Debut For Gujarat Lions

#IPL #IPL10

#IndianPremierLeague

#Kerala pacer #BasilThampi, picked up by #GujaratLions for #IPL10, feels that being a part of this #T20 tournament is a big opportunity for young #Domestic #Players like him.

"#IPL is a good #Platform for young domestic players, who get a chance to play with and against international players and for me its a big opportunity," #Thampi told media persons here at Saurashtra Cricket Association (#SCA) stadium in #Khandheri.

Thampi was bought during the IPL auction by Gujarat Lions for Rs 85 lakh against his base price of Rs 10 lakh.

The bowler would be paid much higher than experienced #MunafPatel and #ManpreetGony, who will also play for Gujarat Lions in IPL10.

However, the young pacer considers #T20 #Format as a big challenge particularly for the bowlers. "#Bowling is a big #Challenge in shortest format of the game, but luckily I am getting tips from skipper #SureshRaina and experienced bowlers like Praveenbhai (#PraveenKumar) and Munafbhai (Munaf Patel)," he said.

Gujarat Lions chose Thampi as the team #Franchise owner wanted to make its bowling department stronger and the new entrant has an ability to bowl around 140 kmph consistently.

Gujarat Lions will play the first match against Kolkata Knight Riders (#KKR), 

#KKR co-owners #Bollywood star #ShahrukhKhan and actress #JuhiChawla are expected to be present during the match to cheer up their team.

Powered by:

http://www.whowillwinthecup.com

IPL 2016 - Gujarat Lions Dim Mumbai Indians Chances To Qualify

#GL vs #MI
#IPL2016
#Kanpur, #GreenPark

Going into the last game of their respective campaigns, both teams had different agenda.
While #GujaratLions were seeking to top the table and go into Qualifier 1 (which gives them two shots at the Final), #MumbaiIndians were in a Must-Win situation to scrape through to the qualifiers by winning and hoping some results go their way. High stakes for both sides.

On a friendly deck at the #GreenPark, MI took first strike and suddenly found themselves in a hole.
After a brisk 30, captain #RohitSharma perished (huge blow in context of the game). He was soon followed by #Guptill and #KrunalPandya leaving Mumbai tottering at 45 for 3. #DhavalKulkarni and #DRSmith doing the damage for #GL.

Youngster #NitishRana and England batting mainstay #JosButtler then set about resurrecting the #MI innings. Rana was the aggressor surprisingly and his clean hitting was a pleasure to witness. Refreshing energy and audacious strokeplay made his innings very interesting but of priceless value for MI.

When Buttler fell for 33 off a brilliant c&b by #DJBravo, the scoreboard read 120 for 4, 13.4 overs.
An ideal launch pad for #Pollard to come in and take the game away from #GL. The well set Rana was going great guns as he smashed the Gujarat bowlers all over the place.

Rana was eventually out for a brilliant 70 (36 balls, 7 fours, 4 sixes). This eventually turned out to be the turning point in the game. Mumbai lost steam after that and last 3 overs only saw 19 runs accumulated. Pollard fell, Hardik Pandya couldn't hit a ball from the middle of the bat and Harbhajan's wild swings could only reach safe hands of long on. 

From a brilliant 153 for 5 in 17 overs, MI capitulated to 172 for 7 in 20 overs. 20 runs short. Massive in a #T20 game. Brilliant spells from Bravo and #PravinKumar minimized damage in the end overs.

It was upto Gujarat to lose the game since the target was well below par.
And their start was abysmal. #AaronFinch was out second ball trapped plumb in front by #VinayKumar. Captain #SureshRaina coming in 1-drop looked shaky upfront trying to move around the crease but unable to connect. The Big #Baz #McCullum wasn't looking comfortable either. However, #McClenaghan's over changed all that.  Raina smashed him for 3 fours and a six to change the momentum #GL way.

No looking back after that as Baz and Raina completed demoralized the MI bowlers, smashing them all over the park before McCullum was out with score on 96 in the 10th over. Comfortably placed.

#DineshKarthik got a rough caught behind decision while Raina's pyrotechnics to finish the game lobbed a straight one to the keeper made the game interesting. MI had a sniff. Or did they? Dr. Smith razed all their hopes biffing boundaries and sixes galore. #Jadeja finished the game with a heave over extra cover that eluded Guptill's outstretched hands for the winning single. Gujarat had won the match by 6 wickets.

Raina's blitzkrieg innings earned him the man of the match award.
Some really ordinary fielding from MI contributed to their loss as well.

Gujarat now top of the league assured of  1 or 2 finish (depending of how #SRH finish after their match against #KKR). #SRH confirmed of qualification though. #MI will have to wait for #KKR v #SRH and #DD v #RCB game' results and hope to scrape through.

Powered by:
http://www.whowillwinthecup.com