MOHALI, India, CMC – Barbadian fast bowler Jofra Archer sent one final reminder of his extraordinary talent to selectors ahead of England’s World Cup squad announcement today but it came in a losing cause as Rajasthan Royals went down by 12 runs to Chris Gayle’s Kings XI Punjab.
Playing at the IS Bindra Stadium here yesterday, the 22-year-old Archer bowled superbly to capture three for 15 from his four overs, to help limit Kings XI to 182 for six off their 20 overs.
Opener Lokesh Rahul top-scored with 52 and South African David Miller got 40, while veteran Gayle hammered 30 and Mayank Agarwal, 26.
Gayle smashed two fours and three sixes in his 22-ball knock, dominating an opening stand of 38 with Rahul. However, the West Indies superstar never really got the measure of Archer and nicked a catch behind off the England hopeful in the sixth over, after being squared up by one that left him.
Kings XI flourished through an 85-run, third wicket stand between Rahul and Miller, which put the hosts in a strong position on 152 for three at the death.
But after Rahul perished in the 18th over, Archer returned to remove West Indies left-hander Nicholas Pooran for five and Mandeep Singh without scoring in the following over, as Kings lost four wickets for 12 runs in quick time. In reply, opener Rahul Tripathi top-scored with a patient 50 off 45 balls but got no support as Sanju Samson (27), captain Ajinkya Rahane (26) and England’s Jos Buttler (23) all got starts but failed to kick on. Veteran Stuart Binny arrived late to lash an 11-ball unbeaten 33 but the effort came a little too late to save Royals.
With their fifth win, Kings XI moved into fourth spot on 10 points while Royals’ sixth defeat left them one from bottom on four points.
Archer, a former West Indies Under-19, is widely expected to be named in England’s World Cup squad after qualifying to represent the World number one side through his father who holds a UK passport.
