Billings blasts 50 on Chennai debut in IPL
Tuesday 10th April 2018
Kent captain Sam Billings top-scored with his 13th T20 half-century on his Chennai Super Kings debut in the Indian Premier League.
Batting at number five, the England T20 international smashed three sixes off Surrey’s Tom Curran as he reached 50 off just 21 balls in front of a vociferous home crowd.
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Needing 100 from the final eight overs to defeat Kolkata Knight Riders, Billings shared a superb stand with MS Dhoni (25 off 28 balls) to keep home hopes alive after a good start by Shane Watson (42*) and Ambati Rayudu (39*)
The best shots came off West Indies T20 world champion Andre Russell for successive sixes: brilliantly flicking a yorker for six over fine leg before muscling the next ball over the long-on boundary.
The Kent Cricket Academy graduate hit five of a record-equalling 31 sixes on the night after Knight Riders posted 202 inspired by Andre Russell’s unbeaten 88 off 34 balls including 11 sixes.
He eventually holed out for 56 off 23 balls off Curran to long-off before Ravi Jadeja and Dwayne Bravo (11* each) saw the Super Kings home with a ball to spare.
Chennai will be aiming to continue their perfect start on Saturday against Kings XI Punjab, who have Kent T20 signing Marcus Stoinis in their ranks.