Jofra Archer bounces back with match-winning IPL display
His Rajasthan thrashed Punjab Kings by 50 runs
Rajasthan Royals' Jofra Archer bowls against Punjab Kings at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium on the outskirts of Chandigarh on April 5, 2025. (Photo by SAJJAD HUSSAIN/AFP via Getty Images)
Pramod Thomas is a senior correspondent with Asian Media Group since 2020, bringing 19 years of journalism experience across business, politics, sports, communities, and international relations. His career spans both traditional and digital media platforms, with eight years specifically focused on digital journalism. This blend of experience positions him well to navigate the evolving media landscape and deliver content across various formats. He has worked with national and international media organisations, giving him a broad perspective on global news trends and reporting standards.
ENGLAND fast bowler Jofra Archer has been lauded for his match-winning IPL display for Rajasthan Royals, a rapid turnaround from a record hammering in the season opener.
Rajasthan thrashed Punjab Kings by 50 runs on Saturday (5) with Archer returning bowling figures of 3-25 from his four overs of express pace at Mullanpur, near Chandigarh.
He followed it up with another wicketless outing before an impressive 1-13 in Rajasthan's first win of the season last Sunday (30).
TV images of Archer dozing in the pavilion while Rajasthan batted went viral on Saturday but the chatter soon turned to his bowling when he flattened the stumps of two batsmen in the opening over of the Punjab chase.
"We always knew Jofra is a world-class bowler. The skill he brings to the table and into the game, very few can bring that," Rajasthan's Sandeep Sharma said of his fellow seam bowler.
"The entire management and team had confidence in him. We believed that once he gets that one over, that one wicket, maybe two good overs, it would boost his confidence and now, you've seen what he can do.
"He's one of the toughest bowlers to face. I'm pretty sure this was just our fourth game, and with more matches, he'll only get better and better."
Archer bowled left-hander Priyansh Arya first ball with a 144.6kph (89.8mph) thunderbolt that pitched on leg stump and nipped away to hit the top of off.
Archer then got the speed up to 148.6kph (92.3mph) as his sixth legal delivery crashed into the stumps of Punjab skipper Shreyas Iyer.
Sandeep complemented Archer's quick bowling by taking two wickets with his medium pace as Punjab were restricted to 155-9 in their chase of 206.
It was Rajasthan's second straight victory in a match where wicketkeeper Sanju Samson returned as captain after he played the first three games only as batsman.
Samson praised Archer and Sandeep for their contributions and called them "a very deadly combo" with "one guy bowling at 150 and one guy at 115".
Archer, 30, returned to Rajasthan after they bid $1.45 million (£1.15m) for the England international.
Archer has always been a prime target, with IPL heavyweights Mumbai Indians snapping him up for £837,400 in 2022 despite an injury which meant he failed to appear that season and played only four matches in 2023 before being released.
AN AFGHAN man was on Friday found guilty of making a threat to kill Nigel Farage in a TikTok video. Farage is the leader of Reform UK, which currently leads opinion polls in Britain.
Fayaz Khan, 26, was convicted by a jury at London’s Southwark Crown Court of one count of making a threat to kill Farage in a video posted in October 2024.
Prosecutors said Khan uploaded the video in response to one posted by Farage. In his clip, Khan – who has an AK-47 assault rifle tattooed on his face – said “pop, pop, pop” while making gun gestures.
Farage told the court on Tuesday that he was “genuinely worried” after seeing the video, which he described as “chilling.”
Khan will be sentenced next week for the threat to kill, as well as for entering Britain illegally, a charge he has already admitted.
Farage in the witness box
Farage had earlier posted a YouTube video in which he spoke about “young males of fighting age coming into our country.” The video included clips from Khan’s social media posts showing his journey from Sweden to Britain.
Two days later, Khan posted a response, saying, “Englishman Nigel, don’t talk shit about me,” while making gun gestures and headbutting the camera.
Farage said his public role often attracts criticism. “Abuse is part of public life, (but) that’s not something that I’m used to seeing,” he said.
“Given his proximity to guns and love of guns, I was genuinely, genuinely worried,” Farage added.
Khan’s lawyer, Charles Royle, told Farage that the video “suits your narrative.” Farage replied, “It doesn’t suit my narrative, it’s a fact.”
Khan denied the charge and told police after his arrest that the video was not a real threat, saying he played a character in his social media videos. However, the jury found him guilty by a 10-2 majority.
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