Australia’s $3 million dollar man Cameron Green blasted the first century of his Indian Premier League career to ease the pressure on himself and send his Mumbai Indians into the playoffs.
Green smashed eight sixes and eight fours in his remarkable 47-ball unbeaten century which guided the Indians to a crucial eight-wicket win. He scored the winning single to move to three figures and leapt in the air for joy.
Having been signed for a massive $3.15 million the all-rounder had delivered two half-centuries early in the campaign but was coming off a run of four single figures scores before his epic against Sunrisers Hyderabad.
Asked if he‘d felt any pressure because of his monster price-tag, Green said “Potentially”.
“But the whole set up has been awesome. It (the pressure) wasn’t from the team, but probably myself,” he said.
Having blasted the bowlers to all parts, it was the final single to get his century which Green found hardest.
“When we had about 20 to get, I just said to Sky (Suryakumar) ‘just finish it’,” explained Green.
“Obviously, we‘d come here to win so you’ve got to make sure of that first. But with a couple of runs left, I thought I might as well trickle across the line (for the hundred).”
Green, who came in at 1-20 with his team chasing 200 for victory, blasted his way to 50 off just 20 balls, leaving India captain Rohit Sharma very much the junior partner early in their 128-run partnership.
But needing to go on with it, Green did exactly that, racking up his second 50 off just 27 balls in a coming-of-age innings certain to garner him another big IPL cheque.
Mumbai will now face the Marcus Stoinis and his Lucknow Super Giants in Wednesday‘s eliminator final.
