Nathan Ellis, the pacer for Punjab Kings (PBKS), who had been patiently waiting for a chance to play throughout the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 season, emphasized that his team’s recent win against Rajasthan Royals (RR) was fueled by a sense of pride.
Despite RR’s qualification for the playoffs, their descent continued with a loss to PBKS, marked by a stellar bowling display and a resilient half-century from skipper Sam Curran, resulting in a five-wicket defeat at Guwahati on Wednesday.
Reflecting on the match at the post-game press conference, Ellis remarked, “We weren’t sure whether to bat or bowl upon arriving at the ground. However, opting to bowl first turned out to be favorable for us. Although losing the toss was not ideal, it provided us with an opportunity to set the tone for the day.”
He continued, “Considering our position in the tournament, this match was about playing with pride. We aimed to deliver our best performance, and I believe we collectively achieved that goal. We adapted well to the conditions, bowled in tandem, and executed a comprehensive performance. While the pitch was slower than anticipated, overall, it proved to be a decent wicket.”
Under the leadership of stand-in captain Sam Curran, PBKS’s bowlers combined forces to restrict RR to 144 runs. Curran, with figures of 2 for 24, anchored PBKS’s chase with an unbeaten 63 runs. Steering the team to victory after a shaky start that saw them at 48 for 4 in eight overs.
Ellis, demonstrating his value to the PBKS side, delivered four economical overs. Conceding just 24 runs and claiming the crucial wicket of RR’s skipper, Sanju Samson, who scored 18 runs.
Addressing the team’s performance trend, Ellis stated, “There seems to be a recurring pattern over the past few years. For us, the focus remains on playing good cricket. While we have shown glimpses of brilliance, we aim to string together complete performances consistently.”
With their hopes of reaching the IPL 2024 playoffs dashed, Punjab Kings will face Sunrisers Hyderabad at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad on Sunday.
Leave a Reply