Watch: How Sandeep Sharma's Overstepping Cost Rajasthan
Abdull Samad pulled of game for Hyderabad after smashing six of the last of Sandeep Sharma.
Crickate
Three weeks ago, Sandeep Sharma found himself in a similar situation at the Chepauk, facing the formidable MS Dhoni and Ravindra Jadeja. CSK's target of 21 was indeed a tiny bit higher, but Dhoni reduced it to 7 off 3 with consecutive sixes off low full toss deliveries. Sandeep, however, recovered magnificently to deny any other boundary by bowling a perfect yorker to the legendary Dhoni in the final delivery when five runs were required.
Sunday evening in Jaipur, with the Sunrisers Hyderabad needing 17 runs off the final over, Sandeep faced a relatively inexperienced bowler in Abdul Samad. But the 21-year-old did what Dhoni failed to do three weeks prior by smashing the final delivery, a yorker, for six to complete the chase in style after SRH were given a lifeline due to a no-ball controversy.
Sandeep stayed with his forte, the yorker length, which had proven effective against Dhoni. But against the wider ball in the first delivery, Samad shifted across to score two runs before blasting the same ball over long on for a six. Samad and Marco Jansen scored four runs in the subsequent three balls, leaving SRH needing five runs off the final ball.
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Sandeep did not alter his strategy, although he slowed down the final delivery, causing Samad to mistime his stroke and hit it to the fielder at long off. RR erupted in jubilant jubilation as they improved their chances of qualifying for the playoffs for the second consecutive season. However, the sound of the horn cut short the festivities. The umpire signaled a no-ball, leaving RR's companions bewildered while giving Sunrisers a lifeline. A subsequent replay revealed that Sandeep's foot was only millimeters outside the crease.
As SRH required four runs off the final delivery, Sandeep maintained his wide-yorker strategy, and Samad did not falter. He sat deep in his crease and lofted a slightly imperfect yorker over the bowler's head for a spectacular six.
Wtch video here...
https://twitter.com/JioCinema/status/1655275036968894464?s=20
With this, SRH completed the most successful pursuit in the history of the IPL. It was also the highest score ever recorded against Rajasthan Royals and at the stadium.
Despite the fact that Samad deserved all the acclaim for his heroics in the final over, SRH have a lot of credit to give to Glenn Phillips. Having replaced Harry Brook in the batting order, the New Zealand batsman blasted three sixes and a four in his 7-ball 25 that brought SRH's target within reachable distance in the penultimate over of the chase.
