Image Credit: The Indian Express
If only 6 runs have to be defended in the last over, then the bowler is in trouble. This was the big problem in front of Arshdeep Singh in the match between Kolkata and Punjab. By the way, how did this trouble arise in front of Arshdeep? So it happened because of Sam Karan, who had served the victory for Kolkata in the penultimate over, i.e. in the 19th over.
To win against Punjab, Kolkata had to score 26 runs in the last 2 overs. It was not easy at all, especially with the mood of the wicket. In the words of KKR captain Nitish Rana, it was just a pitch of 160-165 runs. Punjab gave a target of 180 runs as their bowlers bowled poorly in the death overs.
Image Credit: TOI
Sam Curran gets beaten up by Andre Russell, tension for Arshdeep!
However, 12 balls and 26 runs. In such a situation, Punjab captain Shikhar Dhawan hands over the 19th over to the player who has got the most expensive bid in IPL history. The hope of Punjab was tied to him. But on the first ball, as soon as Rinku Singh took a single and gave the strike to Russell, after that all the hopes seemed helpless.
Andre Russell opened the thread of Sam Curran. He hit 3 sixes in his next 4 balls and then took a single on the last ball and kept the strike with him. The result was that a total of 20 runs were scored in this over, due to which the match was completely set for Kolkata Knight Riders.
The 'problem' of defending 6 runs in the last over
Now just 6 runs were to be scored in the last over and two batsmen were standing at the crease – Rinku Singh and Andre Russell. In such a situation, let alone victory, the speculations about even a few fights were baseless. The challenge in front of Arshdeep Singh or to say that the problem was big. Nevertheless, he faced the challenge posed by Sam Karan's costly over.
Arshdeep bowled the first ball dot in front of Russell. Taking a single on the second ball, Russell gave a strike to Rinku Singh. Rinku Singh took a single on the third ball. Now KKR had to score 4 runs in the last 3 balls to win. Russell stole 2 runs on the fourth ball of the over and now the target was reduced to 2 balls 2 runs. On the 5th ball, Russell again tried to take a single but he was run out.
Image Credit: Hindustan times
Arshdeep tried to stop but Rinku Singh looted the fair
Russell got out and went to the dugout but Rinku Singh came on strike. Till now, the way Arshdeep had bowled this over and faced the trouble of defending 6 runs, was commendable in itself. In such a situation, the matter of the last ball between Arshdeep and Rinku became a bit interesting. The noise of the stadium stopped. And, this continued till Rinku Singh hit a four on the last ball.
Rinku Singh once again did the work of looting the fair in KKR's victory. He became a hero again. At the same time, it became difficult for Arshdeep Singh to escape from the trouble of defending 6 runs.
