New Delhi: 

Even before his Indian Premier League debut, Kamindu Mendis had gained an international reputation for having the ability to bowl with two hands. Though primarily a batsman, it was his ambidexterity that made him a rare commodity in world cricket.

On Thursday in his IPL debut, the Sri Lankan showed why after Sunrisers Hyderabad picked him in their playing XI. They won the toss and opted to bowl with SRH skipper Pat Cummins calling him up to bowl the 13th over.

KKR win

Mendis only bowed the one over, a successful one at that but it wasn’t enough for SRH as they slumped to an 80-run loss in the match.

They asked KKR to bat first only to concede 200/6 and then were bowled out for 120 in 16.4 overs in what was a disappointing performance for last year’s finalists.

Defending champions KKR now have two wins in four matches while SRH slumped to their third loss in as many games.

Mendis tossed the ball outside the off stump of Raghuvanshi who attempted a lofted shot over extra cover but sliced it into the hands of Harshal Patel, who covered a fair distance in front of deep backward point to take a fine catch.

As another leftie Rinku Singh came into bat, Mendis bowled right off-spin in the remaining teo deliveries of his over. He conceded only four runs, all singles, in his first over of the glamour tournament on debut.

KKR were 104/3 and throughout the over Mendis bowled left-arm spin to right hand batter Angrish Raghuvanshi and right-arm off-spin to Left hander Venkatesh Iyer, being one of the very few players to be able to do it.

The 26-year-old even picked up a wicket in his first over in IPL, dismissing Raghuvanshi (50 off 32 balls, 5×4, 2×6) off the fourth ball of the over.

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