New Zealanders and Super Overs are not always a good mix.
New Zealanders and Super Overs when Eoin Morgan is around, even less so.
Having seen his national team twice lose – once with him playing, once without – against England sides led by Morgan over the past 18 months, Lockie Ferguson was grateful to be on the same side as him this time around.
If he could not beat him, then why not join him?
This time, Ferguson was handed the responsibility of bowling the tie-breaker over after Kolkata Knight Riders and Sunrisers Hyderabad had played out the third tie of IPL 2020 so far.
Given the form he was in on his debut for Kolkata, Hyderabad never stood a chance.
The New Zealand fast bowler had been irresistible in normal time, taking 3-15 from four overs of searing pace – and he saw a crucial catch dropped, too.
Ferguson’s role in the tense finish had another layer, as well. He relayed a catch for Shubman Gill on the boundary in the penultimate over, as Sunrisers ended up drawing square with Kolkata’s total of 163-5.
Riding a wave of confidence, he dismissed David Warner and Abdul Samad in the space of three deliveries, leaving Kolkata requiring just three to win.
Morgan, Kolkata’s captain, and Dinesh Karthik did what was needed off the bowling of Rashid Khan.
“It’s great having Morgs at the top of the mark with his calmness, and of course I had my plan which was working throughout the game,” Ferguson said of his dream debut.
“We’ll take this win and enjoy tonight. It was a very good win on a tough wicket.
“It was nice to put the icing on the cake after the batsmen’s effort.”
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Kolkata v Hyderabad player ratings
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SUNRISERS HYDERABAD RATINGS: Kane Williamson – 7. Aggravated a hamstring injury in the field, but still came out to open the innings. He played a plucky role, too, with 29 from 19 balls. Sportzpics for BCCI -
Jonny Bairstow – 5. Gave it away tamely just as his side needed him to steady the ship after two quick wickets. He had been in fine touch till then. Sportzpics for BCCI -
Priyam Garg – 7. Undone by a fine bit of bowling from Ferguson, after his surprise elevation to No 3. Still in credit, after his brilliant catches to get rid of Gill and Rana. Sportzpics for BCCI -
David Warner – 8. Timed his push almost perfectly, only to miss out on the two needed off the last delivery. Heartbroken by his first-baller in the Super Over. Sportzpics for BCCI -
Manish Pandey – 5. As sprightly as ever in the field, but was on the receiving end of an unplayable yorker by Ferguson. Sportzpics for BCCI -
Vijay Shankar – 7. An unheralded and unthreatening fifth bowler for Hyderabad, but he performed admirably, with one for 20 off his four overs. His team needed runs, too, though. Sportzpics for BCCI -
Abdul Samad – 7. It shows the esteem in which he is held that he was brought in at the drop of Warner’s wicket in the Super Over. He played a fine hand in normal time. Sportzpics for BCCI -
Rashid Khan – 7. He was not quite as compelling watching as usual, but one for 28 from his four overs was still economical. Put up a fight in the Super Over. Sportzpics for BCCI -
Sandeep Sharma – 7. It was all going so well until Karthik deposited his penultimate ball for a six. Still, just 27 from his four overs was steady enough. Sportzpics for BCCI -
Thangarasu Natarajan – 6. Dismissed the potential game-changers Tripathi and Russell, and his figures would have looked so much better if his last ball hadn’t gone for six. Sportzpics for BCCI -
Basil Thampi – 5. Thampi has struggled to arrest a rising economy rate in IPL cricket. He went for 46 here, but at least got Morgan’s wicket off the last ball of the innings. Sportzpics for BCCI -
KOLKATA KNIGHT RIDERS RATINGS: Rahul Tripathi – 6. He was bowled the ball after getting lengthy treatment for a blow on his right forearm from Natarajan, having made 23 from 16. Sportzpics for BCCI -
Shubman Gill – 5. The elegant opener has been getting plenty of good reviews, but his strike-rate needs work. His 37-ball 36 was soporific. Sportzpics for BCCI -
Nitish Rana – 6. Took responsibility for upping the rate with Gill going slowly at the other end, but fell to a diving boundary catch by Garg. Sportzpics for BCCI -
Andre Russell – 4. Looked disconsolate after another meagre return with the bat, and broken in the field after a hamstring niggle. Tough ask bowling the last over, all things considered. Sportzpics for BCCI -
Eoin Morgan – 7. He was set for his fourth red-inker of the tournament, only to hole out on the last ball of the innings having made 34 off 23 balls. Sportzpics for BCCI -
Dinesh Karthik – 8. Gives the impression of a different player entirely now the weight of the captaincy is gone. A sparkling late-overs cameo brought him 29 from 14 balls. Sportzpics for BCCI -
Pat Cummins – 6. A return of three wickets in nine matches might not quite be worth the outlay, but the $2m man was tight enough. Sportzpics for BCCI -
Shivam Mavi – 6. Had his work cut out bowling with the pressure high. Went for 34 from three, but was up for the fight. Sportzpics for BCCI -
Kuldeep Yadav – 7. Benefited from bowling in tandem with the pumped up Ferguson as he made a neat and tidy return with just 18 coming from his three overs. Sportzpics for BCCI -
Lockie Ferguson – 10. Where has he been all tournament? Got his Kiwi captain Williamson with his first ball, and was irresistible thereafter. Three for 15 in normal time. Two for two in the Super Over. Sportzpics for BCCI -
Varun Chakravarthy – 7. The spinner has become such a key player for Kolkata. This time round he took one for 32, although he did miss a tough catch, too. Sportzpics for BCCI
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Ferguson had been forced to sit and watch Kolkata’s first eight games from the bench.
He was clearly itching to make up for lost time. His haul of three wickets in his four normal-time overs matched that which Pat Cummins, his side’s big-money signing, had managed in all nine matches so far.
Cummins was glad to have another pace ace in the side.
“It was an amazing performance by Lockie, and I’m so happy for him,” Cummins said.
“You have to remember, he hasn’t played the past month here, but before that there was lockdown, too.
“He has been working so hard for this chance. We knew he was ready when he got out there, and he showed why he is one of the best in the world.
“He was unbelievable under pressure. It was a great performance.
“Any time you have a couple of quick guys out there, who can bowl some quick bouncers and yorkers, I think it gets the whole team up.
“I’m glad he got a chance, and I’m sure we will see more of him.”
The win put a four-point cushion between Kolkata in fourth and the rest of the field, with five matches left of the league phase of the competition.
Defeat was difficult for Warner, the Hyderabad captain, to take. He had played a canny hand in the run chase, with 47 not out off 33 balls.
He needed to take 17 off Andre Russell’s final over. He managed just 16, then fell to the first ball of the extra over from Ferguson.
“At the end of the day, we probably leaked a few too many in the middle overs and at the back end,” Warner said.
“For us it's about finishing games and we've failed the last two or three occasions
“We lost wickets at crucial times again. Kane [Williamson] had to open because he had a slight niggle with his adductor, and he will need some physio work.”
