IPL 2021: Prithvi Shaw smacks six consecutive fours in an over off Shivam Mavi

The Delhi Capitals romped home with a seven-wicket win over the Kolkata Knight Riders in the Thursday double-header of the Indian Premier League courtesy of a scintillating knock from Prithvi Shaw, who struck at 200, scoring 82 off just 41 balls in a knock that included 11 fours and three sixes.

Having set 154/6 courtesy of Andre Russell’s late flourish, any chance of the Knight Riders defending the total was single-handedly demolished by Shaw’s onslaught, who lit up the chase with six consecutive boundaries in the opening over of his team’s response against a hapless Shivam Mavi.

Shaw, who notched up the quickest fifty of the season (18 balls), became only the second player in IPL history (after Ajinkya Rahane off S Aravind in 2012) to hit six boundaries in a row, while the first one to do so in the opening over.

He started the proceedings sending the ball over the bowler’s head, before unfurling a gorgeous flick past mid-wicket when Mavi went slightly fuller. The bowler was guilty of overpitching the next ball, giving width to Shaw, who obliged with a drive through the covers.

What followed was a low, wide full-toss, which was crisply cover driven as the fourth four. Mavi went short and wide next, only to be slapped past backward point before another fuller ball outside the off-stump was sent to the extra-cover fence by Shaw to make it six in six.

Adding 132 runs for the opening stand alongside Shikhar Dhawan, the young batter made light work of the chase and by the time Pat Cummins induced a top edge off his bat for Nitish Rana to grab at backward point, the chase was all but over.

I knew where he will bowl to me: Prithvi Shaw

Speaking post-match, Shaw said that he knew where the bowler was going to bowl. “Wasn’t thinking anything to be honest. Was just waiting for the loose balls. We’ve played for four-five years now [with Mavi], so I knew where he will bowl to me. I was prepared [for the short ball]. The first four-five balls he bowled were half-vollies so I was prepared for the short ball but unfortunately he didn’t bowl.”

“On this wicket especially when the spinner is bowling, it wasn’t coming very nicely onto the bat. Was stopping a little. Was waiting for them to bowl at me on off stump or outside so I can free my hands. When I’m in there, I keep playing and don’t think about the score. I don’t think about myself, just want the team to win,” he said.