Lockie Ferguson, one of the most economical bowlers for Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) this season turned out to be the weak link in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2021 final. Ferguson had a bad day at the office and conceded 56 runs in the final but ended up creating an all-time IPL record with his blinding speed. The Kiwi speedster bowled a 153.63 kmph delivery against Chennai Super Kings (CSK) which is now the fastest delivery by any bowler in an IPL final.
Ferguson’s 153.63 kmph delivery is also the fastest delivery of the season overtaking Sunrisers Hyderabad’s (SRH) sensational bowler Umran Malik, who bowled a 152.95 kmph delivery in his debut IPL season.
This season, six of the top 10 fastest deliveries have been bowled by Ferguson. The rest of the top ten have been bowled by the Jammu & Kashmir-born bowler Malik. He played a major role in KKR’s comeback in the second phase of IPL 2021 taking 13 wickets from eight games.
In the last season as well, Ferguson conceded 54 runs against CSK at the same venue. However, by conceding 56 runs he bowled the second-most expensive spell by a bowler in an IPL final.
This was 30-year-old’s best IPL season so far. This was his second IPL final. He played his first one for now-defunct Rising Pune Supergiants (RPS) in 2017.
Ferguson was given a chance in the KKR’s bowling lineup after the franchise’s star bowler Pat Cummins pulled out of the second phase of IPL 2021. Comparing to Cummins, Ferguson’s numbers have been exceptional whether it is the economy rate (barring the final) or taking wickets.
