Barinder Sran announced his arrival at the international scene in some style in the opening ODI of the series at Perth with a three-wicket haul on a belter of a surface, says a report in Hindustan Times, adding that Sran has made a fine first impression as experts waxed eloquent of the potential the gangly bowler showed in his opening act at the WACA.
“It was a day of debutants with Australia blooding two of their own pacers - Joel Paris and Scott Boland. Sran not only outshone the two, he was the most impressive bowler of the day. If he was nervous, there were no signs of it as he settled into a good rhythm right from the first over. The impact was immediate. He had a wicket in his second over when he took a fine low catch off his own bowling to dismiss Aaron Finch. Sran soon had the dangerous David Warner, caught at mid-on and was unlucky not to add George Bailey’s scalp. The umpire failed to spot Bailey had gloved down the leg side to the ’keeper. It proved costly as the batsman went on to score a match-winning hundred,” says the report, adding that Sran impressed with his attitude also, having the gumption to give the highly volatile Warner a send-off.
According to a report in The Asian Age, while the 23-year old’s first wicket was that of Finch, who he dismissed by taking an acrobatic return catch bending low, what really pumped him up, as was evident through his celebrations, was his second wicket —that of Warner — who he got out caught at mid-on.
“The first wicket gave me immense joy and at the same time released a lot of pressure off me. It gave me more confidence to do well ahead. Getting the priced scalp of Warner was important and it happened in the very next over. I was overjoyed to get such a big player’s wicket which got me pumped up,” said the cricketer from Punjab, taking to bcci.tv.
The left-arm pacer finished with match figures of 3/56 in 9.2 overs, after being handed the India cap by his captain M.S. Dhoni before the tie. “When I was in that huddle receiving the cap from Mahi bhai, it was as if my dream was turning into a reality. Every member in the team told me that I will do well and encouraged me. It was an amazing feeling.”
