With just a few weeks away for the most exciting league to get started in UAE. Helping a team from the verge of losing a game and to put them back into the hunt is one of those enthralling emotions that keeps the audience on the edge of their seats during the course of a tournament. There were quite a few times when there was no chance of winning the game for a team while batsman took the aerial route in the slog overs and stunned the cricketing fraternity with Jaw-dropping stroke plays.
Scoring a century in T-20 it means you have put the team in the safe position – but it does not always work as there are instances when scoring a century gets into the vain. On the same thoughts, scoring a century did wonders for the team in every way. The most interesting side of the IPL starts when the team are close to reaching the playoffs the intensity, drama and emotions in the last few matches of the league phase are most enthralling. Although, league phase match is also good for the teams to secure their position in the top four of playoffs with the maximum number of win and good net run rate.
As always, the elite teams make it through the playoffs quite easily but there are underrated teams who stunned the cricket world at the last moment of league phase to enter into the playoffs. With magical performances like batting, bowling or fielding team enters into the playoffs. Scoring a century on the winning cause rates the value a player quite high. There are quite a few batsmen from the inaugural season who have stunned the world at the last moment of the game.
Take a look back at Top 3 knocks which have came in a winning cause:
David Miller 101* (38) Vs Royal Challengers Bangalore, 2013:
One of the most dangerous knocks in IPL history came from the bat of David Miller. The Southpaw stunned Chandigarh and world Cricket with his unbelievable hitting deep into stands and huge into the sky.
6th May 2013 the tag of ‘Killer Miller' finally Justified by the Flamboyant player from South Africa, David Miller. 51st match of the season, Royal Challenger Bangalore after decided to bat first on the Mohali ground Captain Virat Kohli decided to bat, as on the shoulders of Chris Gayle (61), Pujara (51) and unbeaten knock from AB de Villiers 38 runs off 19 balls helped RCB to post the total 190/3 in 20 overs.
Coming into the chase, the home team looked in a hurry to cross the line and that’s what RCB wants them to do and KXIP batsman trapped into the plan of RCB captain with 64/4 in just 10 overs. The picture was clear RCB going to win the match on a pretty easy note. Then walked in the ever flamboyant player in the history of IPL ‘David Miller' – with 126 required in 60 balls.
The target was out of reach and if there was any possibility it was only David Miller. He has his started his innings with some hard-hitting and uppercut to remember – it looked like this man won’t give up easily. At the score of 41, Miller looked out before the Kohli dropped his catch – it was clear this was the mistake Kohli will going to cost them. And what after, David Miller took the aerial route and tell the Kohli with the awe-inspiring flow of his bat – You have done the big mistake of the match. While he scored the first 41 runs in 22 balls but what's next was one of most dangerous hitting in the history as Miller Stunned the audience and spoiled the party of Kohli with 60 runs in next 16 balls.
The sound of his bat and ball was making the perfect connection that night while in the nail-biting match helped KXIP to teach the target with 2 overs to spare.
Andre Russell 66 (38) Vs Kings Eleven Punjab, 2015:
At the second spot, it is definitely the Andre Russell Show. The slog overs specialist once again proved why he is the best all-rounder in the short format of the game. It was another encounter when the team won back from the verge of losing a game.
KKR Captain Gautam Gambhir after winning the toss forced KIXP to bat first, and they have set some decent total on board 155/9 in 20 overs with the well-consolidated knock of George Bailey 60 (45).
Coming into the chase, the KKR team crumbled to 60/5 with most of the star batsman into the hut. Then walked in the Jamaican talent Andre Russell with absolute Carnage of 66 runs off 36 balls stunned the audience and took his team over the line with 4 Wickets in hand.
MS Dhoni 54* (29) Vs Kings Eleven Punjab, 2010:
3rd season and 54th match of the tournament winner of the game will proceed to semi-finals in the 3rd season of IPL. After winning the toss, CSK captain decided to field first in a day and night match with the hopes it will difficult for the opposition to bowl in the second of innings of the match as dew factor will be in the batting favour.
KXIP without any wasting the time, posted the mammoth total on the board of 192/3 in 20 overs, with the absolute carnage of Shaun Marsh 88 and Irfan Pathan 44 while remained unbeaten.
With 193 to chase, the most dangerous opener of CSK Mathew Hayden Walked in with every hopes to get cross the line before the last ball. At the score of 26/2, CSK lost both of their openers – with the hopes of getting into semi-finals looked doubtful – Suresh Raina and Badrinath provided some support but soon at the score of 89/3 Suresh Raina departs.
Then comes in MS Dhoni with 104 required in 60 balls. Converting the singles into the doubles and hitting the bad balls into stands he has built his innings while at the score of 148/4 CSK lost their 4 wickets. With 44 to go in the last 18 balls – MS Dhoni Justified the Tag of Mr Finisher in cricket and why he is called Best Finisher in modern-day cricket.
The equation comes down 16 runs required off 6 balls with the ball in Irfan Pathan hand – boundary off the first ball while double on the second ball – makes the equation 10 runs off 4 balls. The next two balls were deep into the stands wide of long on for six – while with the last final six - Dhoni punched himself and showed his gesture that CSK is into semi-finals one more time.
