Mohammed Siraj L and Shahbaz Ahmed. Picture Credit: BCCI/IPL
The recently-concluded IPL match seemed like a cakewalk for the SRH batsman when the side were at 115/2 in 16 overs with just 35 runs required off 24 balls. Both SRH batsman Manish Pandey and Jonny Bairstow looked in cruise control to steer their side to the first victory of the season, until the strategic time-out when Virat Kohli decided to hand the ball the Shahbaz Ahmed to break the partnership.
Shahbaz Ahmed bowling the 17th over, deceived the English wicketkeeper on the very first delivery of his new spell, courtesy of a ‘Superman-Catch’ by AB de Villiers. On the very next ball Manish Pandey too tried a big shot and found his way back to the pavilion.
Just when SRH needed to maintain their composure against Ahmed, Abdul Samad struck the ball in the air on the last delivery to give Shahbaz the third wicket of the over.
Here is the game-changing over from Shahbaz Ahmed:
Well Done Shahbaz Ahmed ??❤️#SRHvRCB pic.twitter.com/HSjsg4O5s9
— Oreo (@Oreohotchoco) April 14, 2021
Shahbaz Ahmed's over eventually wins game for RCB
With the left-arm orthodox taking 3 crucial wickets in the 17th over, SRH found themselves in a place to bother, having lost all their big guns. The hero of RCB’s previous game, Harshal Patel added more to the drama as he sent back Vijay Shankar while Mohammed Siraj got Jason Holder caught at long-off in the penultimate over, leaving SRH to chase 16 runs in the last over.
With as much drama unfolding, the last over could not have been uneventful. Harshal Patel gave a nervy moment to his camp on the third ball, which went for a boundary and was adjudged no-ball for height. However, the pacer came roaring back with a slower short ball on a free-hit that ended on a dot ball. With a make-or-break ball left, Rashid Khan got run out, courtesy of a brilliant throw by Mohammed Siraj. RCB eventually bagged the game by 6 runs.