Cricket is a game of fine margins and that is an undeniable and intrinsic part of the game. Minor mistakes that may seem inconsequential may lead to teams falling short of winning by the barest margins. Over the years numerous instances have been observed where a team is denied a win because of small errors.
Teams have lost because of dropped catches, overthrows, or bowling no-balls. An instance of bowling a no-ball that was mighty costly was seen in today’s game of Rajasthan Royals and Royal Challengers Bangalore.
Royal Challengers poor on the field
By his own lofty standard, Butler was having a slow game. He had scored 40 off 37 balls by the time the 18th over of the game had come. He was initially dropped twice. Once by David Willey off Akash Deep in the 7th over and then by Akash Deep himself in the same over off a caught and bowl chance. However, these changes did not seem to hurt a lot as Butler was unable to go to top gear and was playing a slow hand.
Butler makes RCB regret over their mistakes
The mistakes started to hurt in the 19th over. Before the over commenced, Rajasthan Royals were 127-3 and seemed like getting to 150 was their target. However, things changed in the last two balls of the over. Butler heaved Siraj was two lofty sixes. He flat-batted Siraj over long-on in the first six and in the second he sweetly timed a juicy full-toss over extra cover. Rajasthan Royals ended the 19th over with 146 on the board.
The last over started quietly with the first balls just giving one run. However, the second ball was declared a no-ball. It was a tough call from the umpire as the feet had landed millimeters ahead of the line and it was a debatable call.
A tight call fo the No Ball. pic.twitter.com/HNlZZoQyL5
— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) April 5, 2022
However, this was the beginning of complete destruction. The free-hit sent for a huge six over long-on. The next ball went for a six in a similar manner. Hetmyer who was a spectator on the other side then fired the ball of the innings for a six over deep square leg.
Rajasthan who had found hitting hard till the 19th over finished with a healthy 169 and had all the momentum with them. We will have to wait and watch how costly this was for RCB.