KKR all-rounder Venkatesh Iyer shone with the ball, taking two wickets in two balls to help Lancashire clinch a thrilling three-run victory over Worcestershire in the Metro Bank One Day Cup on Wednesday. The Indian all-rounder’s heroics in the final over turned the tide in favor of his county side, showcasing his versatility and composure under pressure.
A Dramatic Turn of Events
Defending a modest total of 237, which included half-centuries from Josh Bohannon and George Balderson, Lancashire found themselves in a precarious position as Worcestershire threatened to chase down the target. However, Iyer’s introduction in the 49th over proved to be the game-changer.
Iyer’s over began with a flood of ten extras, narrowing the required runs from 16 to just four. Despite the pressure, Iyer maintained his composure. He first dismissed Tom Hinley, who had been a thorn in Lancashire’s side with a quickfire 24 off 18 balls, catching him out at deep midwicket. Iyer then trapped the last man, Harry Darley, lbw with his next delivery, sealing a dramatic victory for Lancashire.
“I really enjoyed that,” Iyer reflected after the match. “Halfway through the innings, they were dominating, and then we took a few wickets to be back in the game. Certain games teach you the lesson that it is never over until the last ball.”
Learning and Adapting
Despite conceding ten extras in the first part of the over, which brought Worcestershire’s target down to just four runs, Iyer maintained his composure and belief in his abilities. “I was confident in that last over because I was bowling really well,” he explained. “If I was not bowling well, my confidence would have gone. But they were eight wickets down, and it just needed two good balls. If I got one, the last batter would have had the pressure on them. So I didn’t give up.”
Despite the challenges of bowling in English conditions, Iyer expressed his determination to learn from the experience. “I have found the conditions here challenging. These are not sub-continent conditions, and I haven’t been good with the bat. This is what I want to take back with me, learn a lot, and contribute to the team,” he stated.
Iyer had had a mild contribution with the bat as well, scoring 25 runs off 42 balls in the game.
Stay updated with all the cricketing action, follow Cricadium on WhatsApp, Facebook, Twitter, Telegram, and Instagram
