Gujarat Titans gun fast bowler Mohammed Shami gave a perfect start to his team as he took three wickets against Lucknow Super Giants at the Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai on Monday. Shami struck on the first ball as he dismissed KL Rahul with a peach of a delivery.
Subsequently, the veteran fast bowler accounted for Quinton de Kock as he found the gap between the left-hander’s bat and pad to hit the stumps. Shami also got the big wicket of Manish Pandey as he disturbed his woodwork. Thus, he bowled a superb opening spell of 3-0-10-3 to push Lucknow Super Giants on the backfoot.
Shami revealed that his plan was to bowl a Test match line and length as he was getting the movement with the new ball. In fact, Shami could have had his fourth wicket if Lockie Ferguson had not fluffed Ayush Badoni’s catch in the death overs.
Shami finished his quota of four overs with impressive figures of 3-25 and thus he was awarded the Player of the Match as he played a key role in restricting the opposition to 158 runs.
Shami said in the post-match presentation, “I was warmed up well. It was important to get a good start in the first match, I looked to bowl a Test match line and length here. When the ball comes out of your hand like that … (smiles). I have worked very hard on this seam position. People say it is god-gifted, but that’s not the case. I try to come round the wicket to a leftie and make that angle because that’s the most uncomfortable thing for them. I just look to do that. Hardik asked me if I wanted the fourth over on the trot, but I told him to hold me back.”
On the other hand, Gujarat Titans were under a bit of pressure during the run-chase as they needed 68 runs off the final overs. However, Rahul Tewatia played a match-winning knock of unbeaten 40 runs off just 24 balls to get his team over the line in their first match of the IPL.
Tewatia said after the game, “The wicket was good and the communication between Miller and me was to take the game deep and during the strategic break I told Miller I will take chances in the next over as the boundary was smaller on the leg-side, and the ball wasn’t spinning much. Bishnoi was bowling those googlies and after that reverse sweep, the situation was such that I had go after the bowler and had to play my shots. During our camp, I saw Abhinav’s batting and he is a very clean striker and the X-factor of our team we have been playing together for the last few weeks now and I had complete trust in him that he will play his shots. Playing your shots in the first game with that confidence is really pleasing to see. The plan is to concentrate on the process and that’s what we did during the practice. Ashish (Nehra) has made sure that everyone in the squad is in a happy mood.”
The Hardik Pandya-led team will next face Delhi Capitals at the Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium, Pune on Saturday.
