Miserly spells – Five most economical spells from the IPL
The Indian Premier League (IPL) at times, has been driven by the big-hitting efforts of the batsmen but on some occasions, the bowlers have come forward with special performances as well. Bowlers giving away 30-40 runs has been a regular sight in the league but very few have managed to end up conceding less than 15 runs or even fewer than 10 runs. Among the players who bowled at least four overs in an IPL match, only five of them till date ended up with an economy rate of under two i.e. conceding less than eight runs.
Here are the five most economical spells in the history of IPL:
5. Rahul Sharma – 4-0-7-2 in 2011:
Rahul Sharma represented the IPL debutants Pune Warriors in the 2011 edition. During a home match against the Mumbai Indians, the leg-spinner became unplayable on a slow and turning track. He got the wicket of Rohit Sharma and followed it by dismissing Tirumalasetti Suman who was MI’s top-scorer with a 16-ball 36. Rahul ended up his four overs conceding only seven runs. He was the first spin bowler in the IPL to have conceded seven or fewer runs in an IPL game after bowling a full quota of four overs.
4. Lockie Ferguson – 4-1-7-2 in 2017:
The New Zealand speedster Lockie Ferguson made his IPL debut in the 2017 season representing the Rising Pune Supergiant. Playing at home against the Royal Challengers Bangalore, the Pune franchise got to 157/3 on a tricky surface for the batsmen. Ferguson, coming in as first change, got the better of AB de Villiers and also Stuart Binny later on. Ferguson ended up conceding only seven runs in his four overs out of which one of them was a maiden. He was adjudged as player of the match as Pune won by 61 runs.
3. Fidel Edwards – 4-1-6-0 in 2009:
Deccan Chargers and Kolkata Knight Riders began their campaign in the 2009 IPL during the 4th match of the tournament. The Deccan pacer Fidel Edwards, on the Cape Town track, made scoring tough for the destructive pair of Gayle and McCullum after KKR elected to bat first. The West Indian went on to finish with an analysis of 4-1-6-0 to record the most economical IPL spell of that time.
1. Yuzvendra Chahal – 4-1-6-1 in 2019:
In the opening match of the 2019 IPL, the Royal Challengers Bangalore were bundled out for only 70 runs against Chennai Super Kings on a turning Chepauk track. Later, Yuzvendra Chahal took the new ball and began with a maiden over against Shane Watson. The leg-spinner cleaned-up the Australian on the first ball of his second over. Chahal conceded only six more runs in the remaining 2.5 overs to finish with figures of 1/6. These are the joint-best economical figures in the IPL and also the best by a spin bowler.
1. Ashish Nehra – 4-1-6-1 in 2009:
Delhi Daredevils dominated the league phase of the 2009 IPL held in South Africa but struggled to get going against Kings XI Punjab in the last week. On a tricky batting track in Bloemfontein, the Delhi team ended up with only 120/9 in 20 overs. But Ashish Nehra made it tough for the KXIP batters to chase the low total with an economical spell. Nehra dismissed the aggressive opener Sunny Sohal and also bowled a maiden in his four overs that cost only six runs. However, KXIP chased down the target in 19.1 overs.
(Stats as on August 12, 2020)
