Green’s return to bowling fails to ignite Kolkata

NEW DELHI: Cameron Green made his much-anticipated return to the bowling crease on Thursday, but the Australia all-rounder was unable to ​help Kolkata Knight Riders snap out of their winless run in ‌the Indian Premier League.

Green, who became the IPL’s most expensive overseas recruit when Kolkata paid $2.77 million for his services, played their first three matches of the season solely ​as a batter while completing his recovery from a lower back ​injury.

After contributing an unbeaten 32 in Kolkata’s 181-4 against Lucknow ⁠Super Giants, the sight of Green loosening up drew cheers from a ​sparse Eden Gardens crowd.

Handed the ball in the ninth over, he removed Lucknow ​captain Rishabh Pant with his second delivery, but the over cost 12 and he was taken out of the attack.

The 26-year-old returned for the penultimate over with Lucknow needing ​30 off 12 balls but was milked for 16 by Mukul Choudhary, ​who finished 54 not out off 27 balls.

Lucknow sealed victory with the last ball, leaving ‌two-times ⁠champions Kolkata without a win after four matches. Their only point came from a washout against Punjab Kings.

Kolkata batter Rovman Powell remained optimistic.

“If you look at IPL history, teams that win are the ones that peak in the ​middle and later ​stages,” the West ⁠Indian told reporters after their loss by three wickets.

“It’s not easy when you don’t start well, but our destiny ​is still in our hands. We still have games ​left.

“If we ⁠keep putting in the work, the results will come. Sometimes it’s not just about the result - tonight was a good game, we just ended up on ⁠the wrong ​side. But wins will come if we ​keep doing the right things.”

Kolkata are ninth in the 10-team IPL, above Chennai Super Kings on ​net run rate.