Former Australia captain Ricky Ponting on January 15 once again showcased why he helped his side dominate world cricket for a long time across formats. Ponting predicted how Nathan Coulter-Nile will dismiss in-form Indian-origin all-rounder Nikhil Chaudhary in the Big Bash League (BBL) 2023-24 clash between Melbourne Stars and Hobart Hurricanes.
In the 18th over of Hurricanes' innings, Chaudhary was still new to the crease having scored just five runs from four balls.
Ponting in the commentary box said, “He'll drag the length back now, Coulter-Nile, take the pace off. It's what he does so well here at the MCG.”
That’s exactly what happened. Chaudhary went for the flat-batted shot but played it too early. With no pace on the shot, it could not even go over the mid-off fielder Glenn Maxwell. Melbourne Stars skipper took an easy catch as Chaudhary departed after scoring five runs from five balls.
This is not the first time Ponting has predicted a wicket. During the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2020-21, he called how left-arm pacer Mitchell Starc will breach opener Prithvi Shaw’s defense and get him bowled.
Despite Chaudhary's wicket in the slog overs, Hurricanes managed to finish well as captain Nathan Ellis smashed two sixes in his five-ball 16. Hurricanes posted 187/8 after Maxwell won the toss and opted to bowl first. Wicketkeeper-batter Matthew Wade and Ben McDermott scored half-centuries to get the Hurricanes off to a good start. Daniel Lawrence was the pick of the bowlers with a four-wicket haul including the wickets of Wade.
In the run chase, Thomas Rogers and Lawrence failed to get Stars off to an electrifying start. Maxwell tried to push the scoring rate with his 18-ball 32 before Ellis got his wicket. In the middle overs, Beau Webster and Marcus Stoinis kept them alive in the run chase. But Webster was not attacking enough and left too much to do in the end. After Chris Jordan dismissed Stoinis for a 32-ball 48 in the 18th over, Stars lost the match by seven runs. Hilton Cartwright scored 14 runs from eight balls whereas Webster remained unbeaten for 43-ball 55.
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