Rajasthan Royals beat Kings XI Punjab by four wickets in the high-scoring encounter. The Royals chased down 223 to record the biggest successful chase in the history of the IPL. After Sanju Samson and Steve Smith scored fifties, Rahul Tewatia smashed five sixes in an over and went on to score a fifty to take his side home.
A raft of cricketing greats were left stunned by an incredible boundary line save in the IPL by West Indian player Nicholas Pooran overnight.
On the third delivery of the 8th over bowled by Murugan Ashwin, Sanju Samson pulled a shorter delivery towards mid-wicket. The ball was looking set to cross the ropes with ease but Nicholas Pooran had some other ideas.
The West Indies star leapt full length over the rope to catch the ball. And just before falling outside the boundary, he smartly flicked the ball back into play to save four valuable runs for his side. And he did all of that while being airborne.
Here’s the video:
Without a single doubt the craziest bit of fielding I have ever seen pic.twitter.com/A5ZJXWyMjd
— nma (@namaloomafraaad) September 27, 2020
The joy on Jonty Rhodes face who is King XI Punjab’s Fielding Coach was evident as he stood up from his chair and lauded Pooran’s effort with by bowling down to the West Indies star.
As soon as Nicholas Pooran pulled off the save, the cricket fraternity took to social media to lavish praise on him. Sachin Tendulkar gave the West Indian a special compliment by calling his save the best he has ever seen, writing:
This is the best save I have seen in my life. Simply incredible!! 👍#IPL2020 #RRvKXIP pic.twitter.com/2r7cNZmUaw
— Sachin Tendulkar (@sachin_rt) September 27, 2020
On the other hand, Virender Sehwag praised Nicholas Pooran in his own style, tweeting: “Gravity naamak cheez hi bhula di. Aisa kaise. Defied Gravity, Pooran. What a save.”
Gravity naamak cheez hi bhula di. Aisa kaise.
Defied Gravity, Pooran. What a save. pic.twitter.com/1HReADpmVh— Virender Sehwag (@virendersehwag) September 27, 2020
Pooran has just produced one of the greatest fielding saves I have ever seen. That was almost two yards over the rope and to pull it back….Wow! Where is this standard of fielding going to take us next….
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) September 27, 2020
That is the best piece of fielding you’ll ever see from Pooran!!!! Wow!!! 😳😳🔥🔥 #IPL2020
— James Taylor (@jamestaylor20) September 27, 2020
Loved the fact @PermanentGypsy that @Gmaxi_32 was following up for the possible completion of the catch after @Nicholas_47 had pulled off the “impossible” @lionsdenkxip pride hunting 🦁🦁 #saddapunjab https://t.co/xot35KzdM2
— Jonty Rhodes (@JontyRhodes8) September 28, 2020
