KKR pacer Lockie Ferguson is happy he won’t have to bowl to Andre Russell in this IPL

Andre Russell was in such a murderous form against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) at the Eden Gardens the other day that even his own team-mates in Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) were awestruck. One such member is bowling spearhead Lockie Ferguson who was happy that he would not have to bowl to the Caribbean in the tournament.

Russell slammed 49 not out in just 19 balls to win the game for KKR after it was looking a lost cause. The home team needed over 50 runs in the last three overs but the West Indian’s incredible hitting against a strong SRH bowling attack showed his class. He also took two wickets, including that of SRH opener David Warner who hit 85 off 53 balls, to bag the man of the match award. KKR won the game by 6 wickets to earn their first points in Indian Premier League (IPL) 2019.

Ferguson, who has played only five matches in the IPL so far (four earlier for the now-defunct Rising Pune Supergiant), said he had not seen anything like Russell’s hitting (four fours and as many sixes).

“It’s one of those I’ve never seen anything like that personally. That was unbelievable. I’m pretty excited he’s on my side, I don’t have to bowl to him,” the 27-year-old right-arm fast bowler told reporters on the eve of KKR’s next match, which is against Kings XI Punjab on Wednesday.

Ferguson will have to deal with another Caribbean in next game

However, if not Russell, Ferguson and his breed will have another Caribbean to take care of in the game against KXIP on Wednesday and that is Chris Gayle. Some months short of turning 40, the Jamaican belted a 47-ball 79 against Rajasthan Royals (RR) in Jaipur on Sunday to help them win by 14 runs. The KKR pacer though said that they are ready to tackle Gayle who has a history of playing well in the IPL. Ferguson went wicketless in the first match and gave 34 runs in four overs.

Conceding that Gayle was in great touch against RR, the New Zealander said the KKR bowlers perhaps could focus on certain areas to attack him.

“It’s important to stick to your plan and back yourself because in T20, if you keep working on your strengths then definitely it will come off better,” he said.

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