Drama at ILT20: Pooran Refuses Stumping, Holden Leaves the Game
Drama at ILT20: Pooran Refuses Stumping, Holden Leaves the Game
The Desert Vipers pulled off a nail-biting one-run win over MI Emirates in the ILT20 on Tuesday night. While the finish was tense, the most talked-about moment came in the 16th over of the first innings, involving a declined stumping and a tactical retired out both within two balls featuring Nicholas Pooran and Max Holden.
Batting first after losing the toss in Abu Dhabi, the Vipers were 110 for 1 at the start of the 16th over. Max Holden and Sam Curran were at the crease, but runs had dried up. The previous four overs had produced only 20 runs, and with Shimron Hetmyer and Dan Lawrence already dismissed, the innings needed a spark.
Curran began the over with a four and a single off Rashid Khan, leaving Holden on strike. But Holden failed to score off the next two balls. MI Emirates even lost a review when Pooran thought Holden had edged the ball, but it had only brushed the pads. Two runs came off the fifth ball.
Then came the drama. Holden charged down the pitch to Rashid, missed the ball completely, and was stranded far from his crease. Pooran collected the ball but chose not to attempt the stumping. Holden quickly grounded his bat, escaping what looked like a certain dismissal. The commentators were stunned: “He did not stump him. Could have stumped him by some distance.”
On the very next ball, Holden missed again. This time, the Vipers made a bold move they retired him immediately. It was clearly tactical. MI Emirates might have preferred Holden to stay, given his slow scoring, but the Vipers wanted fresh hitters.
Hetmyer replaced Holden and smashed 15 off 9 balls, while Lawrence followed with 15 off 8 balls. Curran, however, struggled and finished with 19 off 19.
The decision to retire Holden proved crucial. The Vipers scored 41 runs in the last four overs, reaching 159 for 4. In reply, MI Emirates fell just short, finishing at 158 for 9, giving the Vipers victory by a single run.