Thursday, April 18, 2013

Reverse Scripting


The match between KXIP and KKR played at Mohali on 16/4/13 was a lesson in how to reverse the script/s. 

KKR won the toss and put KXIP in, justifying their decision by restricting them to 109/7 in 16 overs. In their last two matches, KXIP had succumbed badly towards the end of their innings, from a competitive position earlier on. The reverse happened in this innings, led by Gony (first match of the season for him) their tailenders scored 48 of last 4 overs to place them in a healthy position with 157/9 in 20 overs, a score eventually proving sufficient for them to win the match. 

There were some spot reverses as well in the script. Narine, the enigmatic West Indian bowler playing for KKR took a hat-trick in the 15th over, and got hit for 23 runs in his last over, the 19th of the innings. That was to manipulate offer/odds for session betting alongside the match result to the disadvantage of the punters (with such a dramatic reversal). And when punters would have started expecting further healthy scoring in the last over, a mere 7 were scored again to the disadvantage of the punters.

When KKR's turn to chase 157 came, they lost 2 quick wickets to be 2 down for just 1 run. Still the odds were a tempting 1.7 in f/o Punjab, in anticipation of a big 3rd wicket partnership that was to follow with a flurry of fours soon after losing the 2nd wicket. From 1-2 in 1.2 overs, score was 19-2 in 4 overs, and then 45/2 in 6 overs, heavy scoring in last 2 overs of the 0-6 overs session being done against run of play to manipulate the session score.

Then with 106/2 in 13 overs, a very strong position to win (requiring just 52 in 42 balls with 8 wickets in hand and two well set batsmen on the crease, KKR's batsmen started getting themselves out to be 116/4 in 15 overs and 128/6 in 18 overs. Some spot reversals. In further reversal, 19 runs were scored by KKR in the 19th over before losing a wicket on the last ball of the over. And with further drama in the last over, KKR, the favourites before the match and in strong position during most of the match in both the innings, ultimately lost.  


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