Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) pacer Kartik Tyagi was given the task to defend 17 runs in the last over. Considering Tyagi had once defended four runs against Punjab Kings (PBKS) in the last over, Ajinkya Rahane’s decision to pick him over Cameron Green made sense. But, Tyagi got KKR dugout and fans’ hearts racing, leaving Rinku Singh exclaiming expletives with two above waist-height no balls. At first, it seemed he would be taken off the attack. Rahane was ready to hand the ball to Anukul Roy after a discussion but then the on-field umpires informed him that Tyagi can continue to bowl. The pacer was allowed to complete the over as the second no ball was deemed not dangerous as it was not targetted at batter Himmat Singh’s body.
Here’s what the rule says -
IPL Playing Conditions’ Clause 41.7.1 states: “Any delivery, which passes or would have passed, without pitching, above waist height of the striker standing upright at the popping crease, is to be deemed to be unfair, whether or not it is likely to inflict physical injury on the striker. If the bowler bowls such a delivery the umpire shall immediately call and signal No ball."
However, Clause 41.7.3 adds: “If the umpire considers a non-pitching delivery, or a series of non- pitching deliveries, to be dangerous under 41.7.2 when the ball is dead, the umpire shall repeat the No ball signal to the scorers and then caution the bowler, indicating that this is a first and final warning. The umpire shall also inform the other umpire, the captain of the fielding side and the batter of what has occurred. This caution shall apply to that bowler throughout the innings.”
What happened for the rest of Tyagi’s over?
On the second free hit delivery, Tyagi bowled a slower short delivery. Himmat saw it coming as the message from coaches Dwayne Bravo and Abhishek Nayar was clear. The LSG impact player hit it for a boundary. It made the equation eight runs off last four balls. Tyagi made a comeback with a delivery that clocked 149 kmph. Himmat was late on the shot and got caught at deep square leg by Rinku Singh.
When Prince Yadav came on strike, he resorted to a slower short ball as the LSG tailender looked to scoop it over the short fine leg fielder. Prince couldn't get bat on it but Shami was quick to get to the striker's end. With seven needed off two, Shami went for a slash outside off stump and missed the ball. After a hit and miss, Tyagi didn't bowl a similar delivery. Instead, he went fuller and at the stumps. He got punished for it as Shami bludgeoned the long ball over long-off fielder Ramandeep Singh to hit a six and take the game into super over.
However, Tyagi did not face the brunt of conceding 16 runs in last over as LSG made an even worse tactical decision to send an out-of-form Nicholas Pooran to bat against Sunil Narine. LSG managed just one run from the super over and all Rinku needed was one ball to help KKR get two crucial points.