Run rate would prove handy in close race to semis: Lumb

Published Wed, Apr 07 10 10:10 PM

Jaipur, Apr 7 (PTI) After guiding Rajasthan Royals to a massive nine-wicket triumph over Kings XI Punjab, Michael Lumb said the runrate acquired from today''s win will hold them in good stead if the race to the semifinal gets close. Lumb bulldozed the Kings XI Punjab bowlers with a 43-ball 83 to help Rajasthan overhaul the 154-run victory target with five overs to spare. "The massive win today would certainly help us in the run for the semifinal. We were able to push up our run rate which would prove handy in case of close race," said Lumb after the match. On course for a well-deserved hundred, Lumb played a risky shot to hole out in the deep but the English player said he was more worried about the runrate than his personal score. "It was disappointing not to get a hundred especially after being so close to it but I was not looking at the scoreboard instead the run rate was on my mind," he said. Lumb also heaped praise on his opening partner Naman Ojha and said he is a fine player. "I think he is awesome. He strikes the ball very well and takes away pressure away from me," he said. Stating that the absence of South African Captain Graeme Smith was blessing in disguise, Lumb said that the south Paw is a great batsman. "He is a great batsman. When he left the question of filling his shoe was important. I was lucky to get the opportunity and since then I am trying to make use of it," He said. "I have not been kicking good starts but I had stepped in today with a mind set of playing more balls. It worked and I was able to play a good innings," He added. Humble in victory, Lumb said he was not intentionally severe on S Sreesanth and it was just another bad day for the Kings XI Punjab bowler. "Sreesanth is a great bowler and he can bounce back any time but I was able to hit him for few runs today. I would not agree that it was the weakest I had faced in IPL. It was just not their day," He said. Regarding leaving out Morne Morkel and Shaun Tait out of the playing XI today, Lumb said, "The pitch looked slow and it appeared that it would get low and assist spinners in the second half and that is why the selectors left them out." "Jaipur has been lucky for us before. We were happy to come here and more after winning such an emphatic victory," he added.

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