The Royals have been in the limelight for all the right reasons as James Faulkner, Owais Shah and Kevon Cooper built momentum across various global leagues leading up to the IPL. Fresh recruit Faulkner has been the pick of the lot with exemplary all-round skills for Tasmania in the Sheffield Shield, for which he even bagged the MoM in the final that Tasmania won.
Faulkner was a revelation in the second half of the tournament in which he tallied a total of 39 wickets and 444 runs that included three fifties. He delivered when it mattered the most via his match winning 89 when Tasmania were in tatters at 6/56. His bowling was instrumental in Tasmania’s success that saw two five-fors and a best of 5/23 at an overall average on a little over 20. By far the best all-rounder of the tournament, Faulkner sure has his eyes now set on IPL success.
Travelling all the way to the West Indies, Kevon Cooper destroyed Comb C&C with his medium pace taking 5/17 and knocking them over for a paltry 97. Earlier in the tournament too, his 3/33 proved to be instrumental against a close 2-wicket win against Guyana.
Finishing off is Owais Shah’s brilliance for the Cobras against the Titians. It was all but over with almost 80 required in the last 6 overs. Teaming up with Justin Ontong, Shah scripted and almost pulled off a stunning effort with his unbeaten knock of 61 (38b, 3×4, 4×6) but the duo fell agonisingly short of 7 runs.
src: rajasthanroyals.com