Mohammed Shami revealed how bowling to two top-class batsmen was one of those prized moments for the fast bowler. He was bowling to the likes of Rohit Sharma and Quinton De Kock, but the duo couldn’t score the required 6 runs in the 1st super over as the match went into 2nd Super Over.
In IPL 2020, for the first time in the history of the tournament, two Super Overs were required to declare a winner. After the two teams ended on identical scores of 176/6, the first Super Oversaw both teams score just five off the over before the game moved into the second Super Over and KXIP eventually won, scoring 12 runs needed to win.
Mohammed Shami: Being Able To Defend 5 Runs Is Thoroughly Satisfying As There Is No Margin Of Error When Target Is Small
However, all that wouldn’t have been possible without Mohammed Shami, who bowled a dream over to MI. After Jasprit Bumrah bowled six terrific balls and picked up the wickets of KL Rahul and Nicholas Pooran to give MI to score a 6 run target, no one could have given KXIP a chance against a batting-heavy unit such as MI.
“Being able to defend just 5 runs against two most explosive batsmen is thoroughly satisfying,” Shami told BCCI.
“There is no margin for error when the target is so small. I don’t think anybody would have given us a chance against such top-class batters. I remained hopeful and backed my skills. When you are bowling yorkers there is a chance that you will end up bowling a low full toss, but I am happy I could execute my skills.”
But what followed was even more inspiring. Mohammed Shami kept the MI openers quiet and defended five runs successfully, pushing the game into a second Super Over.
Mohammed Shami: Margin Was Very Less In World Cup Clash Against Afghanistan
Mohammed Shami’s heroics were reminiscent of his match-winning show for India against Afghanistan during the 2019 World Cup.
“The margin was very less in the World Cup clash against Afghanistan. I had to get my yorkers right. We were favourites to win and the game had gone right down to the wire. I am glad I could help India win that game and, in the course, also got my hat-trick. Such moments stay with you for a long time,” he concluded.
With 16 needed to win off the last over, and with a set batsman Mohammed Nabi taking a strike, Afghanistan were closing in on a huge upset over India before Mohammed Shami picked up three wickets in three balls – claiming his maiden international hat-trick – which sealed Virat Kohli’s team an 11-run win.
India scored only 224 and Afghanistan were 213/7 in the final over when Mohammed Shami picked up wickets of Mohammad Nabi, Aftab Alam and Mujeeb Ur Rahman. He returned with figures of 4/40 as India won by 11 runs.