3 minute read
Josh Hazlewood won a clash of Aussie World Cup winners when he outfoxed Marcus Stoinis to take Royal Challengers Bangalore to victory in the IPL.
Josh Hazlewood has won an all-Australian battle in the Indian Premier League to earn Royal Challengers Bangalore victory over Lucknow Super Giants in Mumbai.
Marcus Stoinis was shaping up to lift Lucknow past RCB's 6-181, hitting 24 off 13 balls and eyeing the 34 needed off the two overs left.
The first was to be bowled by Hazlewood. Seeing Stoinis shuffling across to target the legside he bowled wide, so wide Stoinis left the delivery only for the umpire, to the batsman's annoyance, to deem the ball legal.
So, next ball, Stoinis shuffled further across. Hazlewood bowled straighter, and Stoinis inside edged onto his own stumps. In his frustration the furious batsman screamed an obscenity clearly audible on the stump microphone - which could lead to a ban - before stalking from the crease.
Hazlewood finished with a match-winning 4-25 from four overs as Lucknow ended on 8-163, RCB winning by 18 runs. His haul included the key wicket of Quinton de Kock in the third over, well caught at slip by international team-mate Glenn Maxwell.
Maxwell took a crucial wicket himself, dismissing LSG's top scorer Krunal Pandya for a 28-ball 42.
RCB's tally was built around a brilliant 64-ball 96 from Faf du Plessis. The South African had seen opening partner Anuj Rawat and Virat Kohli dismissed in successive balls in the opening over.
But with Maxwell smacking 23 from 11 balls to ensure the power play was not wasted du Plessis was able to settle in before punishing the Super Giants attack.
Having seen his only over go for 14 Stoinis hoped to gain revenge with the ball, but Hazlewood had the final say.