Mccullum and Raina find little batting support
OTHERS HAVE FAILED TO DELIVER, AND THUS GUJARAT ARE IN A POSITION WHERE THEY FACE A MUSTWIN SITUATION IN EVERY GAME
Suresh Raina is behemoth when it comes to the Indian Premier League. He is the leading run-getter with 4416 runs at an average of 34. The left-hander is one of only three batsmen to play over 150 matches and is also the first batsman in the history of IPL to score 300 runs in each edition.
Brendon Mccullum has dazzled the IPL ever since he smashed 158 for Kolkata Knight Riders against Royal Challengers Bangalore in the inaugural match of the T20 league in 2008. In every IPL since then, the former New Zealand skipper has given fans some breathtaking moments with the bat.
In the 2017 edition, Raina and Mccullum have the same aggre gate, 318 runs in 10 games but Guj arat Lions are in a bad position They have won only three games and are seventh in the points table. The other batsmen have failed to deliver, and thus Gujara Lions find themselves in a posi tion where they face a must-win situation in every game.
NO JOINT SHOW
Barring Mccullum and Raina rest of the Gujarat Lions batting has been dismal. The top order has contributed just six fifty-plus scores, equal with bottom-placed Royal Challengers Bangalore and sixth-placed Delh Daredevils. When one looks at the top four teams, their number is much more. Only Kings XI Punjab have a worse fifty-plus score contribution, with jus five.
Rising Pune Supergi ant have seven, Mumba Indians eight and Sunris ers Hyderabad 12 while Kolkata Knight Riders have a whopping 13 fifty plus scores from their batsmen. It is this kind o contribution that has seen teams maintain a winning momentum and stay on top something that has been miss ing from the Gujarat Lions campaign this year.
Raina’s 84 against Kolkata Knight Riders helped the team win. Aaron Finch’s blazing 72 off 34 balls gave them a win over Royal Challengers Banga lore. In between those knocks contributions from the top order batsmen have been minimal. Dinesh Karthik’s 58* came when the next highes score was 32 by Raina. Mccu llum’s 72 against Royal Chal lengers Bangalore was supple mented only by Ishan Kis han’s 39. The lack o contributions from the top order has put Gujarat Lions in this position. With only four games remaining Raina and Mccullum will be hoping they do no continue to wage a lonely war and that the top order comes good.