Batting alongside Kallis was unbelievable: lynn
Sharjah: In awe of Jacques Kallis with whom he shared a match-winning partnership, Kolkata Knight Riders' Australian batsman Chris lynn (in pic) said it was an unbelievable experience to bat alongside the South African legend.lynn starred with a 31-ball 45 before taking a blinder of a catch to help KKR win by two runs in a thrilling contest against Royal Challengers Bangalore here last night. "It is an unbelievable experience to bat with Jacques Kallis. He is so relaxed at the crease and so unaffected by pressure. He was calm and composed throughout the partnership. He is one of the greatest players and it is pretty cool to see how he goes about his batting," the 24-year-old lynn told IPl's official website.
"To get to bat with Kallis and to get to face Muralitharan is an experience I won't forget. You look back at these moments, not now, but when you retire, and you realise how fun it is," he added.
Asked about the stunning catch he took to dismiss AB de Villiers and seal the win for KKR, lynn said he managed to grab a difficult chance. "I felt it was a well connected shot and it was a tough catch to take at that moment. I would have taken it comfortably had I stayed on my feet, I slipped a bit, but I clutched on to it at the last moment. I tried my best not to touch the boundary ropes and I am happy I could catch that one," he said.
Want to put up a good show every time: Vinay
Sharjah: Pacer R Vinay Kumar (in pic), who held his nerves in the last over to churn out a dramatic victory for Kolkata Knight Riders against Royal Challengers Bangalore, said he would like to put up a similar show every time for his team in the ongoing IPl.
Needing just nine off the last over, Royal Challengers Bangalore could manage only seven, thanks largely to Vinay Kumar's superb bowling, besides a breathtaking catch by Chris lynn that enabled the Knight Riders stage a dramatic fightback to pull off a two-run win in a thrilling last-ball finish here last night."This performance will help me become a more matured bowler and keep me high on confidence going into the remaining games. Hopefully, I can turn up for my team every time and put up a good show," said Vinay Kumar.
Vinay, who had earlier been a part of the RCB outfit, said he had faced such tense situations in the past also and had successfully defended totals in the last over. "I had successfully defended quite a few games in the last over last year. I am used to being under such tense situations and I try to get better with every outing. Even while practising, I try to put myself into such situations during practise, which has helped me perform when needed," he said.
KXIP players to wear blue wrist bands
Dubai: Kings XI Punjab cricketers will wear blue wrist bands during tomorrow's IPl match against Kolkata Knight Riders to support World Immunization Week. According to a release issued by the team, India has the highest number of under-five deaths in the world, at 1.4 million. Pneumonia and diarrhea remain the leading causes of death among these children.
George Bailey, Captain, Kings XI Punjab said, "This is the first time a team from IPl will support the cause of ensuring every child is immunized against life-threatening diseases. It is a positive step towards building awareness among the parents and others who consider sportsperson as their role model and inspiration. We hope the message reaches every Indian."
Morkel reprimanded
Sharjah: Kolkata Knight Riders pacer Morne Morkel (in pic) has been reprimanded for breaching the Indian Premier league (IPl) code of conduct by using "insulting language" during his team's match against Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) here.
"Morkel admitted to the level 1 offence (Article 2.1.4) of using insulting language during the match," said a statement from the tournament organisers on Friday. The statement added: "For level 1 breaches of the IPl Code of Conduct, the Match Referee's decision is final and binding."In another game on Thursday, Shane Watson of Rajasthan Royals was fined $20,000 for maintaining a slow over rate during the Chennai Super Kings innings.
Bayliss credits Horn for KKR win
Dubai: Chris lynn's stupendous catch may have unanimously caught the fancy of one and all in Kolkata Knight Rider's two-run victory over Royal Challengers Bangalore but coach Trevor Bayliss credited psychologist Mike Horn for the teams turnaround in the IPl match.Coming at the back of two successive losses, KKR came from behind to edge out RCB in the final over of the match and Bayliss said that Horn's pep talk gave the players confidence to get past the star-studded RCB.
"We had Horn with us before the competition started and one of the things that he spoke about is to always give yourself a chance. He has spoken about that in the last couple of years and it worked out very well for us today," Bayliss was reported saying by the Gulf News website.