How a sloppy Jackson managed to surprise Dhoni

Photo: BCCI

New Delhi: Sheldon Jackson’s stint with the Kolkata Kinght Riders has been a sorry one so far. The talented Saurashtra batsman has not been able to put his act together with the bat. But he did manage a task which even the greatest cricketers of the world failed to do – surprising MS Dhoni. 

It was not in the manner that would have pleased the Saurashtra stumper but Jackson unknowingly pulled off the rare task in the Kolkata Knight Riders and Rising Pune Supergiant match at the Eden Gardens, Kolkata. He became only the ninth player to get hit wicket in IPL.

When Kolkata was in desperate need of a partnership, Jackson managed to step onto his stumps while facing off-spinner Washington Shundar. Dhoni behind the stumps was taken a back in the first instance but his match awareness mode was switched on as soon as he saw the LED lights flash when Jackson set off for a run. 

Dhoni, who has shown some incredible glove work behind the stumps in the IPL, certainly looked a bit surprised and even pointed in the direction of the ball for the square leg fielder to get around it.

However, Jackosn knew it straight away and made a slow walk back to the pavilion for 10 even as a distraught Gautam Gambhir looked on from the non striker’s end. 

 

The night ended in further embarrassment for Jackosn. He conceded a needless leg bye in a futile attempt to get the batsman run out when RPS needed just 6 runs off 7 balls.

Risng Pune Supergiant went on to win the match by 4 wickets on the back of an outstanding 93 off 52 by young Rahul Tripathi.

Successive losses meant Kolkata are now stuck at 14 points. A higher net run rate has enabled them to hold on to the second spot.