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Fast bowler Avesh Khan became Lucknow Super Giants' (LSG) hero on April 19 as he helped the Rishabh Pant-led side choke hosts Rajasthan Royals (RR) in a run chase they dominated. RR were 156/2 after 17 overs. They needed 25 runs from 18 balls. Then Avesh bowled probably the best spell of his Indian Premier League (IPL) career in death overs. In the 18th over, he dismissed set batters Yashasvi Jaiswal and stand-in captain Riyan Parag. In the final over, he got rid of dangerous Shimron Hetmyer and helped LSG register a two-run win. He bowled full length deliveries with ease and in the post-match presentation said that he does not want to be Mitchell Starc but a good Avesh Khan.
"I don't want to become Mitchell Starc, I just want to become a good Avesh Khan. Yorker is my strength and I try to execute it. If I bowl with clarity, I execute it well. I don't bowl looking at the scorecard. I didn't want to concede a boundary in the first three balls. And the batters would be under pressure," Avesh told the broadcasters as he was named 'Player of the match'.
Avesh on final over and dropped catch
In the final over, RR needed to defend nine runs. After Hetmyer's wicket, Shubham Dubey walked out to bat. After a pin-point yorker, he bowled a full toss but Dubey failed to clear long-on. David Miller who usually has a safe pair of hands dropped his catch. On the last ball, he kept his cool and bowled another yorker to finish the game.
"When the ball went up in the air, I thought he would catch it for sure. After he dropped, just 4 runs were needed, there were a few doubts in my mind, one outside edge or inside edge could go for a boundary," Avesh said.
"I told myself to bowl a yorker on middle-leg. I think about the team, I just wanted to win the match. This is a big tournament, I will try to bowl the same way in the remaining matches," he added.
Avesh on injury in final over
Avesh could not celebrate the wicket as he was hit on the hand and then on the boot in the last over. Avesh feared that he broke his hand but it wasn't the case.
"My hand is fine, thought I broke it, hit my bone, I couldn't celebrate," the 28-year-old said.
This was LSG's fifth win from eigth games. They are currently in the fourth position on the points table. They will go up against Delhi Capitals (DC) at home in their next game on April 22.
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