Australia’s Matthew Short has announced himself to the Indian Premier League, top-scoring for the Punjab Kings in Thursday evening’s narrow loss to the Gujarat Titans in Mohali.
The 27-year-old, signed by Punjab as an injury replacement for England’s Jonny Bairstow, smacked 36 off 24 balls in the six-wicket defeat, including six boundaries and a thumping six over mid-wicket.
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Short, batting at No. 3 for the hosts, was knocked over by Adelaide Strikers teammate Rashid Khan in the seventh over with a well-disguised wrong-un that crashed into his middle stump.
Punjab ultimately registered 8-153 from their 20 overs, with none of their batters managing to convert their slow and scratchy starts into a substantial score. Player of the match Mohit Sharma snared two wickets for Gujarat in a disciplined bowling performance, leaking just 18 runs from his four overs.
The reigning champions chased the target with one ball to spare courtesy of an elegant 67 (49) from opener Shubman Gill, who’s enjoying a magical summer with the bat.
England all-rounder Sam Curran, the most expensive player in IPL history at AU$3.4 million, tried to defend seven off the last over, but Gujarat’s Rahul Tewatia hit the penultimate ball for four to clinch victory.
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Short was named player of the Big Bash League last summer after plundering 458 runs and taking 11 wickets for the Strikers. He is the only Australian competing in this season’s IPL yet to make their international debut.
Following his retirement earlier this year, former Australian captain Aaron Finch identified the Victorian as one of the contenders to replace him in the national T20 side.
Earlier this week, Short failed in his debut knock for Punjab, lasting just three deliveries in a thumping eight-wicket loss to the Sunrisers Hyderabad.
Punjab, who have registered two wins in four matches this campaign, will next face the Lucknow Super Giants on Saturday evening.
— with AFP