IPL 2018: Ben Laughlin bowls 7 deliveries in one over during RR's season opener against SRH

In a rare incident in cricket, during yesterday’s 2018 Indian Premier League fixture between Sunrisers’ Hyderabad and Rajasthan Royals, Australian speedster Ben Laughlin bowled 7 legal deliveries in the match.

Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) secured a comfortable 9-wicket victory over the Rajasthan Royals at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium as the visitors posted a measly target of 127. Though no major controversy has erupted over the incident so far but had the match been closely fought, the reactions could have been different.

The incident took place when the Australian seamer was given the responsibility to bowl the 12th over during SRH’s chase. Given the responsibility of defending a moderate total, the last thing Royals would have wanted is to be bowling extra deliveries. While wides and no-balls are still a part of the game, to be made bowl an extra delivery despite the previous 6 being legal, was absolutely criminal, or sheer ignorance by umpires. Thankfully, the result wasn’t a close one or else there could have been a major controversy surrounding the subject.

Match Details

The match, in the end, turned out to be a rather one-sided affair as the hosts completely dominated the run chase. As for the result of the match, Hyderabad never looked troubled while chasing the target of 126 runs after Dhawan earned a lifeline as he was dropped early in the first over by Royals captain Ajinkya Rahane. Dhawan eventually went on to remain unbeaten at 77 off 57 balls, ensuring to bat through to guide his side over the rope.

He formed a match-winning partnership with captain Kane Williamson (36 not out off 35 balls) as the two tore apart Rajasthan’s bowling attack as the Sunrisers overhauled the target with 4.1 overs to spare.

The absence of David Warner, who is currently in hiatus after the sandpaper gate controversy,  didn’t seem to have affected the Sunrisers outfit, although skipper Williamson admitted that the team missed his presence in the dugout.

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