BANGALORE, India, CMC-West Indies batsman Dwayne Smith says his Indian Premier League (IPL) side Gujarat Lions had backed itself to chase down a 200-plus score, if necessary, following their triumph over the Royal Challengers Bangalore on Sunday.
Smith chipped in with 32 off 21 balls in an opening stand of 47 with Brendon McCullum as Lions registered a six-wicket victory over RCB with three balls to spare
RCB scored 180 for two in their 20 overs on the strength of an unbeaten century from Virat Kohli while Lions used up their batting depth to chase the target.
“[If] we would have been set 200, we could have made 200 as well,” said Smith.
“Having said that, we still have to bat properly, and [I am] glad that we did that to get over the line.”
Smith, one of the two changes made to the Lions side, says the extra batsman boosted their top order batting after a disappointing batting performance in their ten-wicket defeat to Sunrisers Hyderabad.
“We have to play on how the pitch was playing,” said the Barbadian cricketer.
“The extra batsman was the way to go and I think we missed that in the last game. It’s good to see that we’ve got back to winning ways.”
Smith’s innings included three fours and two sixes while McCullum struck five fours and two sixes including 25 off the sixth over to reduce the run rate.
“It was just natural. Myself and Baz [McCullum] have played for long time,” Smith said. “We know each other. We complement each other well.”
The win over RCB at Saurashtra Cricket Association Stadium, was Lions’ fourth in five matches.
