Sharjah: Ravi Bopara’s all-round performance for Karachi Kings on Friday night is probably the best one-man show in recent Twenty20 matches around the world. He cracked a 43-ball 71 and took six wickets to ensure his team a crucial 27-runs victory over Lahore Qalandars in a Pakistan Super League game.
During his performance, Bopara was pleasantly surprised by the crowd support for him. Throughout his innings and bowling, the fans kept chanting ‘Bopara, Bopara’ in unison. When asked whether he was surprised with such support in Sharjah, the England all-rounder said: “Frankly, I did not ever think I will get such support in another country. It’s nice to hear their support and the support was brilliant for Karachi. We have realised that Karachi has a lot of supporters here and it was nice to see a full turn out.”
Bopara had batted like he was avenging his team’s three-run defeat to Peshawar Zalmi on Thursday despite his fighting 67. He fell in the last over of the match to Darren Sammy. “It has been too good a tour for me. The main thing is that we won today. We were losing most of the games very closely once we lost by two runs and another by three runs and today was the day for me to take the team over the line. It did not work out on Thursday, but today it worked out and I am very happy.”
Karachi had shuffled their batting order against Lahore. When asked whether it was the changes or the fact that it was a must-win game that made them more determined, Bopara said: “A bit of both. We give 100 per cent no matter win or lose. Today we clicked and everything came together.”
When asked whether any negative thoughts crossed their minds when Chris Gayle was in full flow, Bopara said: “It was a very good pitch to bat on and the thing about (Chris) Gayle is that the longer he bats the worse chance you have because he is a match-winner. We knew if we get him out, we have a good chance and we managed to do so.”
