IPL16 : Rajasthan Royals (RR) vs Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) : Match 52 – Jaipur
A Great Start for RR
The Team in Pink had a great start to the IPL this season and was appearing a certainty for the play offs. An extraordinary opening pair of Jos Buttler and Yashasvi Jaiswal, a more consistent Sanju Samson and a dangerous finisher in Shimron Hetmyer, RR had their batting covered and firing on all cylinders.
An Important Home Game After a Bit of a Dip
The. bowling looking sharp as ever with Trent Boult swinging upfront with a bag full of wickets, RR were going strong. But a dip in form for a few matches for Jos Buttler exposed an extremely fragile middle order making RR pay big. Boult too, suffering a niggle had to be benched for a few games in between and RR had a string of losses before they squared up against the Sunrisers Hyderabad in Jaipur for an extremely important encounter.
Belligerent Buttler
Jos the Boss was at it again, stroking a masterful 95. Sanju Samson too notched up a half century and in the end RR amassed an imposing 214. The SRH batting has been inconsistent to say the least and therefore 214 was looking almost unassailable. However SRH batters mounted an unexpected challenge. Abhishek Sharma, Rahul Tripathi and Klaasen kept SRH in the hunt, though the target was looking aloof all the time
Glenn Phillips Turns It Around
Then came Glenn Phillips and smashed RR with the Royals conceding 24 runs in the 19th over. 17 was required of the last over which witnessed huge drama and a mighty change of fortunes. The pendulum swung with each delivery. Obed McCoy dropped a sitter on the very first ball of the final over, giving Abdul Samad his first life. The next ball went for a 6, with Samad crunching with all his might. Joe Root got a hand to it, but the ball sailed over. Eventually, 5 was required of the last ball. Sandeep Sharma bowled a yorker length delivery and Samad holed out at long off. RR were victorious. Sandeep Sharma heaved a sigh of relief pointing heavenwards. The Match was over…not yet though.
RR ‘s Last Ball Gaffe
As the players began to leave the pitch, the deathly siren went off. Sandeep Sharma had overstepped. It was a no-ball. SRH and Samad had got another life. Sandeep had to re-bowl the last ball with 4 required to win. The delivery was similar to the previous one, but on this occasion Samad managed to get underneath the ball, made it a half volley and punched it down the ground for a 6 to secure an improbable victory for SRH. Joy had turned to despair for RR. and for SRH it was a Great Escape.
The no- ball gaffe has cost RR dearly as this loss has pushed them outside the top 4 and put them in the middle muddle with qualification appearing a tough task now.
Cricket is a game of glorious uncertainties and so it was proved…yet again.
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Featured Image : Sunrisers Victorious/ Pic courtesy-Jansatta