IPL 2017, Match 34, RPS v RCB: CT Player of the Match – Lockie Ferguson

The Royal Challengers Bangalore batting crashed like ten pins at the MCA Stadium in Pune. It was top class bowling from Rising Pune Supergiant that brought the downfall of the power packed RCB batting. One man who led the bowling attack from the front was New Zealand speedster Lockie Ferguson. The Kiwi quickie, who is renowned to clock speeds of more than 145 kmph at will, was at his supreme best on the day.

He created the pressure first up by not letting the batsmen get away with easy runs in the early part of the innings. He was introduced in the attack as the first change bowler. Skipper Steve Smith sensed that the time was right to launch him into the attack at a time when two new players were at the crease. He responded in fine fashion to eventually return with figures of 2/7 in his quota of 4 overs.

His superlative bowling in the match earned him the CT Player of the Match in the key encounter.

Choking up the run flow

Lockie Ferguson was playing in his second match of the season and hence it was only natural to feel the heat coming in to a crunch game. Ferguson needed to step up to the occasion and prove his prowess with the ball. He is a renowned pacer back in New Zealand but his might with the ball was largely unknown prior to this game.

Many speculated that with the kind of pace he generates, using him on a venue where the boundaries are relatively short was a risky deal. Moreover, the fact that the RCB batting boasted of the likes of AB de Villiers and Virat Kohli only made the conditions unfavorable for him in the match. But the young lad proved to be absolutely phenomenal and bowled as many as 17 dot balls in his spell of 4 overs.

Getting the two big wickets

Lockie Ferguson not only bowled economically, he also proved to be the wicket taking option on the day against RCB. Both his wickets came at a crucial juncture in the match when the RCB camp hoped for some resistance at the crease. He accounted for the big wicket of AB de Villiers. He bowled a good length delivery outside off to set up his first wicket. The eyes of ABD lit up as he saw width on the ball.

He slashed hard at it but only to see it land straight into the hands of Manoj Tiwary at short extra cover. Later in the game, he dismissed Stuart Binny on 1. He set up the dismissal by bowling a flurry of dot balls to Binny. He then dug one short that was aimed at Binny’s body. All that Binny could manage was a top edge that went to the long leg fielder Washington Sundar.

Making the most out of the opportunity

Lockie Ferguson had largely been warming the bench this season. He had earlier played one more game this season. He was drafted in the lineup against the Gujarat Lions in the game at Rajkot. Ferguson was very expensive with the ball in the fixture and had leaked 44 runs with no wickets to show up to his name.

He was subsequently benched by the team management. Now, he had got an opportunity after a long lay off in the season and the speedster made sure that he made the most out of the opportunity that beckoned for him on the day. With figures of 2/7, he thoroughly deserves every bit of 4 rating points out of 5 given to him for his performance for RPS.