Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) pace sensation Umran Malik is breaking the speed barriers like DC Comics character Flash. On May 5, Malik did not get a single wicket and conceded 52 runs but bowled the second-fastest delivery in the history of Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 after Shaun Tait (157.7 kmph).
Malik bowled a 157 kmph delivery in the last over of Delhi Capitals’ (DC) innings at Brabourne Stadium, Mumbai. As Rovman Powell attacked him in his last over, Malik’s pace went up. The Jammu & Kashmir fast bowler who has won the award for fastest delivery in every game he has participated in, bowled four out of six deliveries over 150 kmph.
Malik’s last over - 153, 145, 154, 157, 156, 144.3 (in kilometres per hour)
Comparison with greats
Had this been an international fixture, Malik's 157 kmph thunderbolt would have been one of the fastest deliveries. The record for fastest delivery belongs to former Pakistan pacer Shoaib Akhtar who bowled a 161 kmph delivery.
Malik’s disappointing outing
While Malik ran in and bowled fast, he did not get the desired result. He was hit for a boundary off the fastest ball he bowled. In the last over, he conceded 19 runs that came off Powell’s bat. As a result, DC crossed the 200-run mark and posted 207/3 after they were put to bat first by skipper Kane Williamson.
Earlier in the innings, he started off with a wide delivery that beat the wicketkeeper Nicholas Pooran and went for a boundary. David Warner hit him for two fours and one six in the 21-run over.
He was brought back into the attack by Williamson where he bowled the then-fastest delivery of IPL 2022 clocking at 154.8 kmph. However, he still ended up conceding 11 runs.
The 22-year-old had a chance at redemption in the 15th over. Powell could have been dismissed before the slog overs but skipper Williamson dropped his catch at mid-off. In his third over, he conceded just two runs.
