That’s what was on SRH pace ace Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s mind as he defended 13 runs in the final over to ensure a thrilling one-run victory over table-toppers Rajasthan Royals
SRH pacer Bhuvneshwar Kumar (right) is ecstatic after dismissing RR’s Rovman Powell off the last ball of the match
With just 13 runs to defend in the final over against table-toppers Rajasthan Royals, the Sunrisers Hyderabad seemed destined for defeat at the Rajiv Gandhi Stadium here on Thursday night. But their India pace ace Bhuvneshwar Kumar (3-41) had other ideas. Bhuvneshwar bowled a brilliant last over, trapping SRH big-hitter Rovman Powell leg-before off the final delivery when two runs were required for victory, ensuring SRH eventually prevailed by the thinnest of margins—one run.
Bhuvneshwar later revealed what was going through his mind at the start of the final over. “I was virtually thoughtless. I was not thinking about the result. I was just trying to do what I can do,” he said after the game. “I knew if I could bowl just two good balls, and if it went [down] to the last ball, anything could happen. It [last ball] was a full toss, I know and he missed it,” added Bhuvneshwar.
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RR in top four
The dismissal triggered wild celebrations as the hosts registered their sixth win and are in fourth place, well and truly in the hunt for a playoff spot. Chasing SRH’s 201-3, RR finished on 2007-7 to suffer their second defeat. Bhuvi, one of the finest exponents of swing bowling, gave SRH a brilliant start when he dismissed two dangerous RR batters—Jos Buttler and skipper Sanju Samson—in the first over itself. He got Buttler to edge a fine outswinger behind the stumps and then shattered Samson’s furniture with a beautiful inswinger.
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RR Sanju Samson is bowled by SRH’s Bhuvneshwar Kumar. Pics/PTI
The dramatic final over though sealed it for SRH and the 34-year-old veteran executed it to the best of his ability, drawing from his wealth of experience. R Ashwin stole a single off the first ball to give Powell the strike. The West Indian then got the ball away for two runs as SRH missed an extra fielder in the deep as a penalty for their slow over rate. Powell then scooped one away for four. Powell took two runs each of the next two deliveries leaving two to get off the final ball. Bhuvneshwar bowled a quick full toss which Powell missed and was struck on the foot, plumb in front.
“The way the ball was swinging, I really enjoyed it. When it swings, you are always on top of the game, you try to take wickets and luckily, I got wickets,” said the player of the match, who hasn’t had the best of IPLs this time round, with just eight wickets from 10 games so far.
Skipper Cummins elated
A pleased SRH skipper Pat Cummins said it was an amazing win. “That’s T20 cricket. Anything can happen, Bhuvi executed that last ball so well,” said the Australian, who himself bowled the crucial 19th over, giving away just eight runs. RR skipper Samson said: “We have played some really close games and won a couple of them. We lost one here. We were going at 10 per over till the last over. The margin for error is very less in the IPL.” The exciting game also witnessed the emergence of two young stars—SRH’s Nitish Reddy, 21, and RR’s Riyan Parag, 22, who excelled with the willow. Reddy made a fine 42-ball 76 not out while Parag got 77 off just 49.
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