Highlanders Reign In Super Over Thriller
By Sudharsan Ramarao
There is always something about the Knock Out games. They don’t give you a second chance. If you win, you stay alive. You lose, you go home. And when you don’t have a second chance, giving your best and playing to your potential is the only way to stay in.
Shaoib Hassan was named man-of-the-match for his performance.
That’s probably why knock out games have historically produced some of the best games of cricket. Last Saturday was one such day where two teams, the Highlanders and Tricity matched each other pound for pound, run for run, wicket for wicket, that at the end of regulation both teams were stranded on equal scores paving way to the first ever Super Over of the T20 Electric League. The highlanders held their nerve and won in super over fashion.
By the end of the 17th over, the match was delicately poised. Tricity needed 26 off the remaining 18 legal deliveries. With seven wickets in hand, and Faizal Hussain, the most destructive batsmen in the capital region still at the crease, Tricity must have fancied their chances more. But just that they were up against a fully charged Highlanders team that kept themselves in the game with quality bowling. Mithesh Jain Godha, the mystery bowler who could conjure up fast leg-breaks with remarkable control, was giving a tough time to the Tricity batsmen. None of them could pick him, let alone score runs off him. And so, when he came on for the 18th over, all the Tricity batsmen could do was pick up three singles. Mithesh was ripping it so fast the batsmen had no time to react.
The equation reduced to 23 of the last two overs. Shoaib Hassan, one amongst the rare breed of genuine all-rounders, came on to bowl. Shoaib Hassan rushed the Tricity batsmen throughout the game with his pace. But this time he was up against Faizal Hussain also known as G, known for his remarkable hitting prowess especially against the fast bowlers. The 100 or so spectators in the ground were in rapt silence. For this was the most decisive moment in the game. Couple of huge hits can dent the Highlanders while the wicket of G could turn the fortune toward the Highlanders. Turned it did in remarkable fashion, as Shoaib Hassan manufactured a brutal fast Yorker that completely beat Faizal Hussain and rattled his stumps. Highlanders were delighted for they had gone past the G-storm. The equation was reduced to 15 runs off the last over. The match that everyone expected to be a closely fought encounter was already turning out to be the best game of the season. Hariprasad Amanapu then took the ball to bowl the decisive last over. He came around the wicket and bowled a crippling line, suffocating the batsmen for room.
Thus, Tricity batsmen could only take four runs off the first three balls. It was then 11 required off the last three balls. Surely the Highlanders must not lose from here. But in a remarkable turn of events Vicky the Tricity batsmen swung a full-length ball on leg stump for a huge six bringing the Tricity supporters to their feet. Hariprasad then gave a single off the penultimate ball, thereby bringing the equation to four runs off the final ball. The season was on the line for both the teams. Highlanders skipper Sridhar Mahendrakar took his time setting the field. Hariprasad then ran up to bowl the last ball. Every one of the spectators was watching with rapt attention. Hariprasad’s attempted Yorker was a bit too full for his liking and landed as a full toss and Tricity batsman’s attempted swipe through the leg side took a leading edge and flew over the short third man. The fielder Sudharsan Ramarao collected the ball and threw it to the keeper at which point the batsmen were completing their third run. In a moment of panic, the wicket keeper Vishal Sridhar’s underarm flick missed the stumps thereby allowing the Tricity batsmen to miraculously complete three runs. Highlanders were crestfallen while Tricity players ran to the field heaving a huge sigh of relief.
Mahesh Dassram and Mithesh Jain Godha.
In the super over, Tricity batted first owing to them chasing in regular time. Highlanders opted for the spin of Mithesh Jain Godha while Tricity sent in two of their strongest hitters Anil Shaman and Faizal Hussain. The momentum was completely in favor of Tricity except that Mithesh had other plans. In a stunning over consisting of fast ripping leg-breaks, Mithesh got Faizal Hussain stumped off the very first ball, then conceded two singles and a wide, and then had the other batsmen Vicky caught at long-on. Tricity just made three. Mithesh Jain had won the game already as the Highlanders knocked off the required four runs off the first three balls of their chase.
Batting first after losing the toss, Highlanders started off briskly with the help of an aggressive Shoaib Hassan. Shoaib Hassan is a rare commodity. For he is a genuine all-rounder in the mold of Ben stokes. He can win matches on his own with the bat, ball or in the field. When such a guy has a good day with bat, ball and in the field, often his team would win, and on this day Shoaib was very well on top form. He was particularly lethal against anything pitched up as he lofted the ball over the long-on and long-off region with consistent ease. In an action packed inning that fetched 44 runs, Shoaib smoked three sixes and 3three boundaries. Giving him good company at the other end was Sridhar Mahendrakar, the Highlanders skipper, who was playing with a new-found freedom. Sridhar shouldered the responsibility of the middle overs and scored a brisk 35 that included two huge sixes. Bhavik Dalsania and Vishal Sridhar gave the finishing touches as Highlanders posted a fighting 152.
Chasing 152 to win, Tricity started off the chase amazingly well. Their openers Mahesh Dassram and Shahzad Butt took on the Highlanders bowlers right from ball one scoring at over eight runs per over. Shahzad butt was the aggressive of the two as he pelted 19 runs off Ramathirtha Randi’s second over and that included two brutal sixes. Tricity was 44 without loss at the end of power play. Tricity was well on their way. But soon Shahzad Butt got out trying to clear the boundary one too many times as Shoaib Hassan took the first of his five excellent catches for the day. At the other end was Mahesh Dassram who settled in nicely for the long inning. Elegant on both sides of the wicket, Mahesh played a flawless inning scoring at a run a ball. Despite the scorching heat, he ran hard for singles and doubles taking advantage of the vacant gaps. While he cashed in on the loose deliveries dispatching them for boundaries, he also showed creativity to play the late dabs and paddle scoops. He took Tricity to a position from which they could not lose, but then his excellent innings ended at 54 thereby tilting the balance of the game.
For his attacking innings of 44 that included three huge sixes, for his lethal fast bowling that included a brutal Yorker to dismiss Faizal Hussain and for his five catches that included a breathtaking running catch from long-off, Shoaib Hassan was adjudged Man-of-the-Match.
