‘World-class’ Archer praised after rapid IPL turnaround

New Delhi:England fast bowler Jofra Archer has been lauded for his match-winning IPL display for Rajasthan Royals, a rapid turnaround from a record hammering in the season opener. Rajasthan thrashed Punjab Kings by 50 runs on Saturday with Archer returning bowling figures of 3-25 from his four overs of express pace at Mullanpur, near Chandigarh.

Archer returned the most expensive bowling figures in tournament history on March 23 against Sunrisers Hyderabad when he was hammered for 76 runs off his four overs. He followed it up with another wicketless outing before an impressive 1-13 in Rajasthan´s first win of the season last Sunday.

TV images of Archer dozing in the pavilion while Rajasthan batted went viral on Saturday but the chatter soon turned to his bowling when he flattened the stumps of two batsmen in the opening over of the Punjab chase.

“We always knew Jofra is a world-class bowler. The skill he brings to the table and into the game, very few can bring that,” Rajasthan´s Sandeep Sharma said of his fellow seam bowler. “The entire management and team had confidence in him. We believed that once he gets that one over, that one wicket, maybe two good overs, it would boost his confidence and now, you´ve seen what he can do.