The Indian Premier League (IPL) has seen a number of great batting performances throughout the years, with Rajasthan Royals (RR) opener Yashasvi Jaiswal being the most recent. On Thursday, May 11, the teenager smashed 98* off 47 balls against the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) at the historic Eden Gardens with KKR spinner Suyash Sharma attempting to throw a wide ball in the 13th over to deprive Jaiswal of a century.
Chasing a modest total of 150, Jaiswal hit 26 runs off KKR skipper Nitish Rana’s opening over and never looked back, breaking the record for the fastest fifty in IPL history. Jaiswal hit the milestone in just 13 deliveries, breaking the previous record of 14 balls set by KL Rahul against the Delhi Capitals in 2018.
Jaiswal’s outstanding effort propelled RR to a critical victory, stopping a three-game losing run and re-entering the playoff picture with six wins and as many losses.
The game, however, ended controversially, with KKR spinner Suyash Sharma attempting to throw a wide off the penultimate ball of the 13th over to deprive Jaiswal of a century.
However, RR skipper Sanju Samson was up to the challenge, moving to the leg side and blocking the delivery to finish the over and gift Yashasvi Jaiswal the strike with six runs needed for his century and three runs needed to win.
The left-hander blasted a boundary off the first ball of the 14th over to finish undefeated on 98, a deuce short of his well-deserved century.
Suyash was chastised by experts and fans alike after the game for his unsportsmanlike behaviour, recalling the Suraj Randiv no-ball that denied former Indian opener Virender Sehwag a century against Sri Lanka.
Let us look at three players who denied centuries by bowling a wide ball.
1) Iqbal Abdulla (RCB vs. KKR, IPL 2011)
Similar to Suyash Sharma’s wide to deprive Yashasvi Jaiswal a century, Iqbal Abdulla of the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) sought to deny Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) opener Chris Gayle a century 12 years ago.
Gayle, who was acquired mid-season as a substitute for Dirk Nannes in 2011, was on fire on his debut for the team.
Gayle raced away to 98 from 54 deliveries, including nine boundaries and seven sixes, while chasing 172. With two runs required and Virat Kohli on strike, Abdulla delivered a wide down the leg side on the penultimate delivery of the 18th over, cutting the target by one run.
Kohli, on the other hand, successfully guarded the last delivery, allowing Gayle to be on strike for the first ball of the 19th over. The West Indian did not disappoint, slamming a four to get his century and help his team win the game.
2) Alok Kapali (South Africa vs. Bangladesh, 2nd ODI, 2002)
In the second ODI of a three-match series in South Africa in 2002, Bangladesh all-rounder Alok Kapali memorably denied South African opener Herschelle Gibbs a spot in the record books by delivering a huge wide down the leg side.
Gibbs had three consecutive ODI hundreds and was on track to become the first player in history to score four consecutive centuries.
He was on 96 with the Proteas needing one run to win when Kapali blasted one way down the leg side, conceding five wides and denying the South African opener a place in history.
3) Andrew Tye (Perth Scorchers vs. Sydney Sixers, BBL 2020/21)
Perth Scorchers bowler Andrew Tye blasted a flagrant wide delivery soaring past James Vince’s head in the first qualifier of the Big Bash League (BBL) 2020/21 season.
Vince was batting on 98 with a single required from three overs when he got denied, much to the chagrin of the full Manuka Oval crowd.
Despite the contentious ending, Vince’s unbeaten 98 from 53 deliveries took the Sixers to the final, where they defeated the Scorchers to win the title.
Vince was the wrecker in chief once more in the finals, this time with 95 from 60 deliveries as the Sixers eased to a 27-run win.