George Bailey: Akshar Patel fortunate to receive Man of the Match award against Cape Cobras

George Bailey

Kings XI Punjab skipper George Bailey has said that young spinner Akshar Patel was lucky to receive the Man of the Match award in his side’s 7-wicket win against Cape Cobras on Sunday.

The Australian, when asked about Wriddhiman’s Saha, claimed the wicket-keeper was the deserving candidate for the match honours for his brilliant work with the gloves before making a valuable 42* (35) with the bat.

“They were three amazing pieces of work by Wriddhi (Saha). Two amazing stumpings and until we saw the replay, we hadn’t realised how amazing that catch was. It is one thing to catch it but to get two hands on it was extraordinary,” said Bailey on the 29-year-old’s catch to dismiss Robin Peterson off Anureet Singh.

“Ax (Axar) played brilliantly but I think he was a bit fortunate to get the Man of the Match award. Without Wriddhi at the stumps it would have been very different. I can’t think of too many ’keepers in the world can come up with stumpings like that and also a catch like that. Three beautiful pieces of work and then capped if off with a nice innings with the bat,” he added.

Pleasing that Akshar Patel bowls with short-sleeved shirt

Heaping praise on the 20-year-old left-arm spinner who has already made his ODI debut for Team India, Bailey said: “Belief is a big thing for Ax. I have only seen him at the start of the IPL, but I think he has always had good self-belief. But the belief now that he can match with the best and can bowl in any situation has turned him into a match-winner for us.”

Referring to the handful of international bowlers who were reported for chucking, the KXIP captain was happy to see his lad bowl in short-sleeves with a neat, simple action.

“There has been a big crack down on the legitimacy of some of the actions in world cricket right now but it is pleasing to see him out there in a short-sleeved shirt doing things the way he does. That is something he can be very proud of,” the former Australian T20 captain noted.

Earlier, Cobras’ openers Hashim Amla and Richard Levi were running away with the game when they scored 59 by the end of the powerplay. The Kings then clawed their way back with Karanveer Singh providing the initial breakthrough before tother bowlers capitalising on the opening to reduce the Protean side to 135 all out in 18.3 overs.

“Amla is one of the best in the world”

Bailey, however refused to put blame on his bowlers after they leaked runs in the first 6 overs, but credited Amla and Levi for their shots.

“Hashim and Richard (Levi) batted beautifully at the start. For a majority of their shots, I wasn’t unhappy with the bowlers. I think they just played some really, really good shots,” Hashim is one of – if not the best batsman in the world currently – so he’s allowed to do that I suppose,” said the Tasmanian.

Kings XI Punjab will now travel to Hyderabad for the semi-finals against either Chennai Super Kings/Lahore Lions on October 2.