Rajasthan Royals’ fast bowler Trent Boult achieved a significant milestone during the Qualifier 2 match against Sunrisers Hyderabad at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai. Boult added another chapter to his illustrious career by claiming his 100th wicket in the powerplay of T20 cricket, setting him apart as an elite bowler in the format’s history.
Boult, renowned for his exceptional ability to make early inroads into the opposition’s batting lineup, continued his trend of grabbing first-over wickets. During the clash, he dismissed Abhishek Sharma in the opening over, igniting the fervor of RR fans and marking the beginning of a remarkable spell.
Trent Boult’s prowess didn’t stop with this early breakthrough. He went on to bag two more critical wickets during the powerplay, dismissing Rahul Tripathi and then Aiden Markram in the fifth over. This performance saw him reaching the esteemed milestone of over 100 wickets in the powerplay overs of T20s, making him the third bowler to achieve this feat. Previously, Boult had accrued 98 powerplay wickets, and his stellar showing against SRH took his tally to 101.
Boult now stands alongside India’s Bhuvneshwar Kumar and England’s David Willey on the distinguished list of T20 bowlers with 100 powerplay wickets. Kumar has claimed 118 wickets, while Willey leads the chart with 128 wickets. Boult’s achievement underscored his status as one of the most effective and reliable bowlers in the early overs of the game.
The updated list for powerplay wickets in T20 cricket is as follows:
1. David Willey: 128 wickets
2. Bhuvneshwar Kumar: 118 wickets
3. Trent Boult: 101 wickets
4.
. Mohammad Amir: 98 wickets
5. Shaheen Shah Afridi: 86 wickets
The significance of Boult’s three wickets was pivotal for the Rajasthan Royals as they managed to disturb SRH’s innings early on. His first victim, Abhishek Sharma, fell to a delivery that bounced more than expected, leading to a mistimed shot that was caught at backward point. Rahul Tripathi was next, falling to a clever slower ball from Boult in the powerplay. A more tactical dismissal followed as Boult deceived Aiden Markram with his skillful bowling.
Despite conceding some runs, Boult’s contribution was undeniable. His figures of 3/45 came from three overs bowled during the powerplay and one over at the death. His impact was felt immediately and helped RR control the pace of the game, stopping SRH from reaching a daunting total.
Sunrisers Hyderabad eventually managed to post a competitive total of 175/9, thanks to a half-century from Heinrich Klaasen. Klaasen’s effort was the saving grace for SRH, whilst Rahul Tripathi’s quick 37 off 15 balls offered significant support before he fell to Boult in the powerplay. Despite a reasonable total, RR’s bowlers, including Boult, maintained pressure and prevented SRH from pushing closer to 200 runs.
The playing XIs of both teams for the crucial Qualifier 2 match were as follows:
**SRH’s Playing XI:**
– Travis Head
– Abhishek Sharma
– Rahul Tripathi
– Nitish Reddy
– Aiden Markram
– Heinrich Klaasen (wicketkeeper)
– Abdul Samad
– Pat Cummins (captain)
– Bhuvneshwar Kumar
– Jaydev Unadkat
– T Natarajan
**RR’s Playing XI:**
– Yashasvi Jaiswal
– Tom Kohler-Cadmore
– Sanju Samson (captain & wicketkeeper)
– Riyan Parag
– Dhruv Jurel
– Rovman Powell
– Ravichandran Ashwin
– Trent Boult
– Avesh Khan
– Sandeep Sharma
– Yuzvendra Chahal
Boult’s historic achievement of reaching 100 wickets in T20 powerplays not only places him alongside the sport’s best but also elevates his standing among contemporary bowlers. His consistency and ability to deliver under pressure make him a critical asset for any team, particularly in high-stakes matches like the Qualifier 2.
The match highlighted Boult’s undeniable skill and solidified his role as a premier fast bowler in the shortest format of the game. As Rajasthan Royals march ahead, they will undoubtedly rely on Boult’s experience and match-winning capabilities to turn the tide in their favor in subsequent matches.
