IPL 2016: Aaron Finch feels Gujarat Lions halted by two world-class players

Aaron Finch started the IPL season excellently by scoring four half-centuries in the first six games

As Gujarat Lions bowed out of the IPL 2016 in the second qualifier, Aaron Finch said that Gujarat’s campaign was halted by two world-class batsmen. Finch had a blistering start to his 2016 IPL campaign, scoring four half-centuries in six innings, before going through somewhat of a slump. He did score another half-century in the match against Sunrisers Hyderabad in the second qualifier, although his team’s party was spoiled by a resolute Hyderabad team.

Just like Finch, Gujarat had a blistering start to their debut season as an IPL team by winning six of their first seven matches, only losing to Hyderabad in that run. Then the form tapered slightly as Gujarat fell a few places on the table, but a strong end to the season ensured that they finish first in the league. They were beaten by Royal Challengers Bangalore in the first qualifiers, even though RCB were on the verge of a humiliating defeat.

“It was an amazing knock, wasn’t it? The way that he controlled the innings the whole way through and went right through and got them home was outstanding,” Finch said about his admiration for his countryman.

“We have been at the receiving end of a couple of great knocks in this tournament and it is just that one batter in every couple of games seems to get us. AB (de Villiers) in the last game and Davey tonight,” he added.

In their last match in the second qualifiers, GL had put up a decent score of 162 runs on the scoreboard, although their party plans were spoiled by an inspired David Warner, who scored an unbeaten 93 to secure his side’s place in the finals against RCB.

In the first qualifiers, GL had to face a one-man annihilation  as well when AB de Villiers took matters into his own hands when he dragged his team to victory from 29 for 5. He scored a glorious 79 in a match where hard hitters Virat Kohli, Chris Gayle and Shane Watson departed without contributing much.

Gujarat Lions were in excellent form before the qualifiers

Finch added: “But we can hold our heads up very high. We played some really great cricket throughout this tournament but unfortunately we just couldn’t get them world-class players out when it counted right at the end there. Two of the best players in the world have both got big scores against us in the last two games. Sometimes, you just have to take your hat off and appreciate how good cricketers both of them are. And say well played.”

Upon being asked about the total that the GL had posted, he said: “I thought it was a very competitive total. There was no dew or anything out there and we have seen it slow up as the game’s gone on. We would always like more runs, there is no secret to that but I think that 162 was around par. We just couldn’t break that partnership (between Warner and Bipul). We continued to take wickets right throughout the innings which was fantastic, we just couldn’t get Davey out unfortunately and that really hurt us.”