There were two outstanding individual performances that helped Gujarat Lions defeat Royal Challengers Bangalore in their Indian Premier League [IPL] match at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium on Thursday.
One came in the first half of the match as fast bowler Andrew Tye produced one of the best bowling spells seen in this season’s IPL. He dismissed Chris Gayle and Travis Head off the first two deliveries he bowled and then got rid of Mandeep Singh later in the innings, to finish with bowling figures of 3-12.
But our Player of the Day is another Australian, Aaron Finch, who was surprisingly pushed down to number four after having opened the batting in the previous two matches.
Coming into bat in a precarious situation, the 30-year-old played a brilliant counter-attacking innings that not only meant that Gujarat won but in the process, they improved their run-rate greatly as well.
Finch took just 34 deliveries to score 72 in a knock that included five fours and six sixes. This was his first half-century of the season and many will say that it was worth the wait.
SOCIAL CHATTER
@aj191 and @AaronFinch5 outstanding tonight! Conviction in own game goes a long way for sure! Excellent team effort @TheGujaratLions
— Brendon McCullum (@Bazmccullum) April 27, 2017
It was fantastic 2 see @AaronFinch5 bat like that.brilliant bowling by @aj191 once again.well done skip @ImRaina lions r roaring again #ipl
— Irfan Pathan (@IrfanPathan) April 27, 2017
@AaronFinch5 is in town people #kaboooooooom serious hitting
— David Warner (@davidwarner31) April 27, 2017
#GL have finally found the right formula (read combination) Hopefully will stick to it. Another win & they're back in the hunt! #IPL
— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) April 27, 2017
@AaronFinch5 absolutely smoking it !! On fire 🔥 #RCBvGL
— Mithun Manhas (@MithunManhas) April 27, 2017
Finch made you think batting was easy today. No, he stood alone while others struggled and that is why this was a wow innings
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) April 27, 2017
