6, 6, 6, 6, 6 – Rinku Singh
- Stump Talk
- April 3, 2023
- IPL, IPL2023
- Gujarat Titans, TATA IPL 2023, video list
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Kolkata Knight Riders 207 for 7 (Venkatesh 83, Rinku 48*, Rana 45, Rashid 3-37, Joseph 2-28) beat Gujarat Titans 204 for 4 (Vijay 63*, Sai Sudharsan 53, Narine 3-33) by three wickets
In the pursuit of 205 runs, Kolkata Knight Riders found a glimmer of hope through the partnership of their Impact Player, Venkatesh Iyer, and skipper Nitish Rana, as they combined for a crucial 100-run stand in just 9.1 overs. However, the dismissal of both batsmen by Alzarri Joseph, followed by a hat-trick from Rashid Khan, seemed to spell the end of their fight.
Yet, in the face of adversity, Rinku Singh emerged as the hero. With the equation demanding 39 runs from eight deliveries, Rinku, who had been on 8 off 14 balls, launched a fierce assault on the penultimate over bowled by Josh Little. He dispatched the final two deliveries for a resounding six and a boundary, infusing renewed hope.
The final over loomed, with Knight Riders requiring an improbable 29 runs for victory. ESPNcricinfo’s Forecaster gave them a mere 1.29% chance of success, given that no team had ever chased down such a total in the 20th over of a T20 match. The record stood at 23, achieved by Sydney Sixers against Sydney Thunder in 2015, and Rising Pune Supergiants against Kings XI Punjab in 2016.
Umesh Yadav managed a single off Yash Dayal’s first ball, paving the way for Rinku Singh to launch an extraordinary assault. The left-hander embarked on an astounding display of power hitting, smashing five consecutive sixes to orchestrate a victory that will undoubtedly reverberate in cricket discussions for years to come.
Rashid Khan, who had conceded 34 runs in his initial three overs, appeared to have secured the win for his side with a remarkable final over. With Andre Russell at the crease, Knight Riders required 50 runs from four overs. Rashid’s history against Russell was well-documented – he had dismissed him four times in just 38 balls prior to this encounter. In a dramatic twist, Rashid claimed Russell’s wicket on the first ball, inducing an inside edge that ricocheted off the pad and was caught behind. The following deliveries saw Sunil Narine and Shardul Thakur fall, both succumbing to Rashid’s wily googlies, resulting in a historic fourth hat-trick in T20 cricket for the leg-spinner.
In the midst of Rashid’s heroics, Rinku Singh continued to defy the odds. With the requirement now 28 runs from five balls, Yash Dayal’s control wavered. Rinku seized the opportunity, capitalizing on three consecutive full tosses by sending them soaring over the boundaries – one over long-off, another over deep-backward square leg, and the final over long-off once more.
Despite the incredible performance from Rashid and Dayal’s response, Rinku remained unyielding. A brief consultation between Rinku, Shubman Gill, Rashid, and David Miller transpired before the final ball. In an electrifying climax, Rinku met the short and wide delivery with precision, guiding it over backward point for a monumental six that sealed the awe-inspiring victory.
As the ball sailed beyond the boundary, Rinku’s jubilant celebration was met by his exultant teammates, who had rushed onto the field to embrace the new hero of the day.
