IPL 2020: Lockie Ferguson is Super Over hero on debut for Kolkata Knight Riders

Kiwi fast bowler stuns Sunrisers Hyderabad in regular time and one-over eliminator

Lockie Ferguson of Kolkata Knight Riders had a stellar match against Sunrisers Hyderabad in Abu Dhabi. Sportzpics for BCCI

New Zealanders and Super Overs are not always a good mix.

New Zealanders and Super Overs when Eoin Morgan is around, even less so.

Having seen his national team twice lose – once with him playing, once without – against England sides led by Morgan over the past 18 months, Lockie Ferguson was grateful to be on the same side as him this time around.

If he could not beat him, then why not join him?

This time, Ferguson was handed the responsibility of bowling the tie-breaker over after Kolkata Knight Riders and Sunrisers Hyderabad had played out the third tie of IPL 2020 so far.

Given the form he was in on his debut for Kolkata, Hyderabad never stood a chance.

The New Zealand fast bowler had been irresistible in normal time, taking 3-15 from four overs of searing pace – and he saw a crucial catch dropped, too.

Ferguson’s role in the tense finish had another layer, as well. He relayed a catch for Shubman Gill on the boundary in the penultimate over, as Sunrisers ended up drawing square with Kolkata’s total of 163-5.

Riding a wave of confidence, he dismissed David Warner and Abdul Samad in the space of three deliveries, leaving Kolkata requiring just three to win.

Morgan, Kolkata’s captain, and Dinesh Karthik did what was needed off the bowling of Rashid Khan.

“It’s great having Morgs at the top of the mark with his calmness, and of course I had my plan which was working throughout the game,” Ferguson said of his dream debut.

“We’ll take this win and enjoy tonight. It was a very good win on a tough wicket.

“It was nice to put the icing on the cake after the batsmen’s effort.”

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Kolkata v Hyderabad player ratings

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Ferguson had been forced to sit and watch Kolkata’s first eight games from the bench.

He was clearly itching to make up for lost time. His haul of three wickets in his four normal-time overs matched that which Pat Cummins, his side’s big-money signing, had managed in all nine matches so far.

Cummins was glad to have another pace ace in the side.

“It was an amazing performance by Lockie, and I’m so happy for him,” Cummins said.

“You have to remember, he hasn’t played the past month here, but before that there was lockdown, too.

“He has been working so hard for this chance. We knew he was ready when he got out there, and he showed why he is one of the best in the world.

“He was unbelievable under pressure. It was a great performance.

“Any time you have a couple of quick guys out there, who can bowl some quick bouncers and yorkers, I think it gets the whole team up.

“I’m glad he got a chance, and I’m sure we will see more of him.”

The win put a four-point cushion between Kolkata in fourth and the rest of the field, with five matches left of the league phase of the competition.

Defeat was difficult for Warner, the Hyderabad captain, to take. He had played a canny hand in the run chase, with 47 not out off 33 balls.

He needed to take 17 off Andre Russell’s final over. He managed just 16, then fell to the first ball of the extra over from Ferguson.

“At the end of the day, we probably leaked a few too many in the middle overs and at the back end,” Warner said.

“For us it's about finishing games and we've failed the last two or three occasions

“We lost wickets at crucial times again. Kane [Williamson] had to open because he had a slight niggle with his adductor, and he will need some physio work.”