By Glenn Moore
Jake Fraser-McGurk has said he’s “fine” with his omission from Australia’s T20 World Cup squad. Time is on his side and he “wasn’t even in the picture a month-and-a-half ago.”
Nevertheless, the young gun bat will have been pretty pleased at his response to the snub – blasting a 19-ball half-century in his first match after the selection was revealed.
Fraser-McGurk got to the landmark smashing 4, 4, 4, 6, 4, 6 in one over from Avesh Khan. He was out next ball, clouting a full toss from Ravichandran Ashwin (3-24) to mid-wicket, but he had made his point.
The 22-year-old ’s fourth half-century in seven Indian Premier League innings set McGurk’s Delhi Capitals, coached by Ricky Ponting, on the way to a 20-run win against Rajasthan Royals.
With fellow opener Abishek Porel making 65 off 36 balls, the Capitals made 8-221 from their 20 overs.
That looked as if it would be comfortably enough when Royals openers Yashasvi Jaiswal and Jos Buttler were out in the power play, but visiting skipper Sanju Sansom had other ideas.
Shai Hope claims a catch for Delhi Capitals in the IPL game against Rajasthan Royals.Credit: X
He had raced to 86 off 44 balls, keeping the Royals very much in contention, when he was brilliantly – and controversially – caught by Shai Hope on the boundary.
The West Indian showed nimble footwork as he skirted the boundary cushion, though not nimble enough in Sansom’s view.
The third umpire disagreed, and after Sansom left, the Royals gradually faded away, closing on 8-201.
Fraser-McGurk’s freewheeling innings defied the painful blow he took to the box from the bowling of Kiwi speedster Trent Boult.
“He’s hardly put a foot wrong since he’s been here. He hasn’t surprised me with what he’s done,” Ponting said post match.
“I had a good look at him in the BBL and knew what he was capable of.”
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