Stoinis recalls the last over drama against RCB

With the team needing 17 runs off the last over, bowled by Chris Jordan, Marcus Stoinis took Kings XI Punjab (KXIP) close to the victory, scoring a four and a six off the second and third balls. But KXIP ultimately fell short by a run.

Published : May 10, 2016 20:05 IST , Mohali

Marcus Stoinis almost clinched a last-over thriller for Kings XI Punjab against Royal Challengers Bangalore.
Marcus Stoinis almost clinched a last-over thriller for Kings XI Punjab against Royal Challengers Bangalore.
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Marcus Stoinis almost clinched a last-over thriller for Kings XI Punjab against Royal Challengers Bangalore.

Forty-eight hours after turning around the fortunes of Kings XI Punjab against Rising Pune Sunrisers, Marcus Stoinis almost did the same against Royal Challengers Bangalore on Monday night.

With the team needing 17 runs off the last over, bowled by Chris Jordan, Stoinis smashed a four and a six in the second and the third ball. But a dot ball followed and thereafter, the young Australian could not get more than two runs in each of the last two deliveries. That left RCB relieved and rejoicing the one-run victory.

Reflecting on the final over after the match, Stoinis said, “When you’re looking at the game afterwards, you wish you did a little bit different. But after the third ball where I moved around and tried to flick it towards fine leg, I just sort of thought, ‘just relax and stay still. The pressure’s on both of us in that situation, it’s a tough moment in the game.’ The aim was to hopefully get a bad ball and put it away. So I had the opportunity there, but unfortunately just missed out.”

Did he expect Jordan or Varun Aaron to bowl the last over?

“We talked about that and we had in our calculations that it was going to be one of those two guys bowling that last over. Doesn’t really take you by surprise, you just go with what happens. But yes, you have your plans for each one. You, sort of, have an idea of what they’re going to try and bowl. But full credit to Chris Jordan, he bowled really well and did the job for his team.”

On the status of Glenn Maxwell, who was left out of the mix on Monday, Stoinis said, “He’s got a minor strain, so he’s injured at the moment. But we’re hoping to have him back as soon as possible.”

RCB’s Yuzvendra Chahal was also asked about choosing Jordan for the final over and he replied, “Chris Jordan has always been a death bowler, even when he bowls for England. They were saying that you needed to bowl slower ones or a bit short, because the leg-side boundary is much bigger and it’s very difficult to clear it. Batsmen would have preferred pace on this surface. Virat bhaiyya was telling him to bowl slower ones on the leg, and a bit short of a length.”

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