Fast bowler Chris Jordan, who took a career-best 4 for 11 against Gujarat Lions, credited the stunning partnership between AB de Villiers and Virat Kohli for setting up a win for Royal Challengers Bangalore
Nikhil Kalro15-May-20161:16
‘The batting was surreal to watch’ – Jordan
Several T20 records broke on a sweltering Saturday afternoon as Virat Kohli and AB de Villiers stunned Gujarat Lions with an onslaught so severe that it took the pair only 96 balls to plunder 229 runs. That record partnership gave Royal Challengers Bangalore’s bowlers a total of 248 to defend and they responded by dismissing Gujarat Lions for 104, completing the win by a record margin of 144 runs. Chris Jordan, who took a career-best 4 for 11, lauded the astounding batting display from de Villiers and Kohli.”Coming into a team of this calibre, I was hoping something like that would happen, hoping I’d be able to witness something like that live,” Jordan said. “What a performance! They really showed their class today. They went through the gears. When they needed to take a single, they took a single. When it was time to go, they went. I don’t think they mis-hit a ball, which was phenomenal. They really set the game up for us bowlers to go and express ourselves and take the wickets we did.”What would Jordan have done had he been up against Kohli and de Villiers?”Who knows?” the England fast bowler grinned. “You just have to back your plans, and hopefully execute. They had every answer for the Gujarat Lions bowlers. To see that hitting live, it was so clean, there was dexterity about it, there was class about it, and sheer, brute force as well. They went through their repertoire of shots today and gave everyone watching a treat.”Jordan, who was signed as a replacement for Mitchell Starc, was unimpressive in his first three IPL games, conceding 132 runs for one wicket at an economy rate of 12. Despite the four-for against Lions, the fast bowler stressed he needed to improve his precision and temperament.”I set quite high standards for myself. It’s important not to get too high or too low, and stay as emotionally stable as possible because you can bowl even better and go the distance, which I probably did in the first three games,” he said. “I can only take what I got today, and take the confidence into the next game. I need to improve on precision and temperament. I don’t think I’m back to my best as yet.”Jordan also threw his support behind the misfiring Chris Gayle. After failing in Royal Challengers’ first two games, Gayle flew to Jamaica for the birth of his first child and his form has not improved on his return from the break. Gayle has five single-digit scores in as many games this season.”I don’t see much wrong with him at all,” Jordan said. “His emotions are always consistent. He’s one performance away from everyone forgetting how his IPL has gone so far. He has that wow-factor about him. He can play one innings and score 100 off 50 balls. Everyone will talk about that for the rest of their lives. He’s a strong character.”
