Jonny Bairstow ends excellent IPL campaign with duck
England batsman scored 445 runs in 10 innings in first IPL campaign
Wednesday 24 April 2019 10:22, UK
Jonny Bairstow concluded a highly-successful IPL spell on a disappointing note as he was out for a duck for Sunrisers Hyderabad in their six-wicket defeat to Chennai Super Kings.
Bairstow, who will now link up with England ahead of the one-day series against Pakistan next month, is behind only Sunrisers opening partner David Warner - who smoked 57 from 45 deliveries against CSK - in the run-scoring charts, having amassed 445 in 10 innings.
But he failed to add his tally at M.A. Chidambaram Stadium after snicking veteran Chennai spinner Harbhajan Singh behind second ball in his final knock of an excellent debut campaign.
Bairstow thumped a 56-ball 114 against Royal Challengers Bangalore on March 31, while he headed into Tuesday's clash with Chennai with back-to-back half-centuries after hitting 61 not out in the reverse fixture against CSK and an unbeaten 80 against Kolkata Knight Riders.
The Englishman struck his runs at an average of 55.62 and strike rate of 157.24, which are positive signs for England ahead of the World Cup, which begins on May 30 when Eoin Morgan's men play South Africa at The Oval.
Bairstow and Warner posted four century stands in the IPL for Sunrisers - including a partnership of 185 against RCB when both batsmen struck hundreds - as well as three further partnerships in excess of fifty.
I have absolutely loved it. The experience has been unbelievable with some great people you can only learn off. It's been amazing,
"I have absolutely loved it. The experience has been unbelievable with some great people you can only learn off. It's been amazing," Bairstow said of his first IPL season.
"Having confidence at the top of the order and going out and playing how you want to play is the main thing. If [Warner] has got off to a flyer I have given him the strike and vice versa."
Warner's run tally now stands at 570 with the Australian only failing to pass fifty twice in 10 knocks.
The left-hander did not top-score against Chennai, though, with Manish Pandey's unbeaten 83 from 49 balls the highest innings as Sunrisers posted 175-3 from their 20 overs.
However, Shane Watson's 96 saw defending champions Chennai to victory with a ball to spare - CSK now back at the top of the table after leapfrogging Delhi Capitals, with Sunrisers remaining fourth.
Bairstow made a couple of eye-catching contributions while keeping wicket for Sunrisers, stumping Suresh Raina and then taking an excellent diving catch to remove match-winner Watson late on.
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