Nicholas Pooran is justifying the Rs 16 crore Lucknow Super Giants spent on bagging him at the IPL Players' Auction earlier this year, and the West Indian has emerged as the perfect finisher for his franchise, which got highlighted once again on Saturday when he took his team home with a stunning cameo against Sunrisers Hyderabad.
Pooran, who was released by the Sunrisers last year, blasted 44 not out in just 13 balls when LSG's chase of 183 to win had turned tricky towards the end. The visitors eventually reached the target in the last over with just four balls to spare for a seven-wicket win.
The knock earned Pooran praise from West Indian great Ian Bishop.
"I have to admit from the start of the season, my preference would have been for Pooran to face more overs, but great credit to them (LSG) that he's won them a couple of games in that role. They stuck with him in that role," Bishop told Cricinfo.
"For several years he's been trying to find a way to bat through overs, take it deep and then finish games. He didn't do that as often as he would have liked.
"He's come in this finisher's role primarily without having to build up to anything and go from ball one. It has seemed to free him up a couple of times this season. He had a lean patch coming into this game. But (coach) Andy Flower's psychology of letting him fire from ball one seems to be working to the benefit of the team."
Pooran, who smashed a 45 off 19 balls against Punjab Kings earlier in the season, said he was happy to get going immediately.
"T20 cricket is a batsman's game. And there's a reason for part-timers. Either they're on for wickets or you can target them. This game is all about taking risks. No risks, no rewards," Pooran added.
"It was really important in this game and once it's your match-up, you need to make it count."
The win took LSG back into the top-four bracket, at No. 4, with 13 points from 12 matches.
(With agency inputs)
