Chris Lynn hopes his explosive form in the Abu Dhabi T10 will earn him a first trip to Pakistan – as well as a return one to the Indian Premier League. The Australian opener continued his extraordinary form in the capital as he hit 89 to set up a 30-run win for Maratha Arabians against Delhi Bulls. It was his third half-century in a row, and assured the Arabians of a place in the play-offs. It was also the second time in this competition where he appeared set to become the first professional player to notch a century in this format. He still had nine balls available to him when he fell to a fine catch by David Willey, which brought to an end his 33-ball whirlwind innings. The innings came against a franchise coached by Stephen Fleming, the highly successful coach of Chennai Super Kings in the IPL. Lynn said he hoped he had caught the eye of any potential employers in the IPL, and in the Pakistan Super League, too. He had been due to play for the Lahore Qalandars in that competition last year, when it was played in the UAE, only to succumb to a shoulder injury on the eve of the tournament. “I think the PSL draft is December 6, before the IPL auction, and I have put my name in for that,” Lynn said. “I have never played in Pakistan before, and I have heard great things. A couple of tournaments have been cancelled – the Afghan league and the Euro league – so I have had eight to 10 weeks off. “It is a good opportunity for me to get fit and strong, then set my platform for the T10, the Big Bash, and the PSL after that. “There is quite a bit of cricket coming up, but first and foremost, let’s win this title with Maratha.” Lynn was released by Kolkata Knight Riders in the IPL, leaving him available at auction ahead of next season. “Every opportunity you get, you want to put your hand up,” Lynn said. “Yes, I have hit a run of form. There are a couple of IPL coaches here in the T10 league, and they know a couple of performances don’t make a whole summer. “For me, it is all about building consistency. I think I am going the right way about it, and being fresh in the coach’s and the owners’ mind is definitely a good thing.” Fleming was impressed, even though he believed his Delhi Bulls bowlers gave him a head-start. “He has got a lot of strength,” Fleming said of Lynn. “We were a little too defensive in trying to negate him, rather than get him out. We were defensive, and when that happens, you make mistakes.” After Lynn’s salvo, Tom Banton also appeared to be on his way to a century for Qalandars in the second match of the day, only to fall for 80. It set the Lahore-based franchise on their way to a 32-run win and put them a step-closer to the knockout stage. In the final match of the evening, Northern Warriors maintained their chances of defending their title as they beat Deccan Gladiators by 10 runs.
