Slater and Pietersen were commenting and were amazed at his effort.
Sharjah Stadium, in the current Indian Premier League (IPL), is expected to break many records apparently. A total of eight games will be played in the season and in just two games, hitters have looted hapless bowlers and Sunday turned out to be a six-hit festival. The Rajasthan Royals (RR) and Kings XI Punjab (KXIP) hitters enjoyed hitting in the middle on a flat pitch and short limits.
Yet amid all the heroics of both teams’ hitters, Nicholas Pooran put in an astonishing effort on the limit in the second inning that left the commentators stunned in the air. The incident occurred in the eighth of innings when the Royals were doing great with Steve Smith and Sanju samson in the middle.
Murugan Ashwin was hitting his first over and after scoring just two runs on his first two balls. In an attempt to reach the requested run rate, Samson rocked back on a short delivery and played a fierce jerk. The ball looked ready for a six. However, Nicholas Pooran, lined up in the middle of deep ground, had other ideas.
Nicholas Pooran perfectly multiplies his jump to save four runs
He saw the ball approach and jumped along to attempt a heroic catch. Surprisingly, he also managed to catch the ball, but his whole body was over the boundary line. This is where the West Indies cricketer showed the presence of mind to put in an incredible effort on the cricket ground.
All the momentum after jumping to catch the ball was taking him to the ground. But Nicholas Pooran somehow got rid of the ball before it hit the ground. Watching the effort, the commentators on the air, Kevin Pietersen and Michel Slater were dumbfounded. While the former called it the best fielding effort in IPL history, Slater stepped up and called it the best fielding effort he has ever seen.
Even Twitterati was in awe of Nicholas Pooran for his fielding and praised the southpaw for saving four runs for his team.
Here is the video:
Save of the century pic.twitter.com/3G5eoDWDlv
– simon hughes (@theanalyst) September 27, 2020
Here’s how Twitter reacted:
Nicholas Pooran has come a long way. @ nicholas_47
(📷: Disney + Hotstar VIP) #IPL # IPL2020 #KXIPvRR pic.twitter.com/Zywtatfwen
– CricTracker (@Cricketracker) September 27, 2020
Gravity naamak cheez hi bhula di. Aisa kaise.
Defied gravity, Pooran. What a saved. pic.twitter.com/1HReADpmVh– Virender Sehwag (@virendersehwag) September 27, 2020
This is the best salvage I have ever seen. Simply incredible !! 👍# IPL2020 #RRvKXIP pic.twitter.com/2r7cNZmUaw
– Sachin Tendulkar (@sachin_rt) September 27, 2020
@ nicholas_47 amazing little country! 🔥
– Sam Billings (@sambillings) September 27, 2020
That Pooran save was awesome!
It continues to show the high standards that this format has achieved.
Sparkly!#RRvKXIP pic.twitter.com/aOKEkPcT8T– VINOD KAMBLI (@ vinodkambli349) September 27, 2020
Nicholas Pooran just made one of the great saves in the game of cricket. Incredible awareness.
– Ian bishop (@irbishi) September 27, 2020
That’s the best piece of field you’ll ever see from Pooran !!!! Wow!!! 😳😳🔥🔥 # IPL2020
– James Taylor (@ jamestaylor20) September 27, 2020
How did you do that, Pooran ??? Are you wearing a cape under your #KXIP shirt?? I’ve never seen anything like this. #RRvKXIP
– Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) September 27, 2020
The best backcountry course I have ever seen!
– Albie Morkel (@albiemorkel) September 27, 2020
When your fielding coach is Jonty Rhodes, who dives at age 51, then Nicholas Pooran’s save is highly anticipated. Jonty just improves the game by fielding the team he coaches.
– Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) September 27, 2020
Pooran doing a Jonty Ropes! 🤩#WhistlePodu #RRvKXIP@ JontyRhodes8 @ nicholas_47
– Chennai Super Kings (@ChennaiIPL) September 27, 2020
What did I just watch? Nicholas Pooran, you have got to be kidding me! Athletics or consciousness, I can’t decide which to amaze me more! # IPL2020 #KXIPvsRR pic.twitter.com/UPRP5CHn1S
– Ajesh Ramachandran (@Edged_and_taken) September 27, 2020
I just witnessed the best field play in cricket history. Pooran, beauty !!! Make a reverence!!! @ nicholas_47 pic.twitter.com/Vg28HN2xU1
– Riteish Deshmukh (@Riteishd) September 27, 2020
The goose bumps still haven’t gone away. Wow, Pooran. Wow.
(PS: He’s a goalie!)
(PPS: Jonty Rhodes field coach, ftw) pic.twitter.com/iHMy1Ajs4r
– Vinayakk (@vinayakkm) September 27, 2020
“That’s the best I’ve seen in a T20 game!” – @ KP24
Describe this @ nicholas_47 save to an emoji! 👇#SaddaPunjab # IPL2020 #KXIP #RRvKXIP pic.twitter.com/YVvp6oIXBP
– Kings XI Punjab (@lionsdenkxip) September 27, 2020
This is the same Nicholas Pooran who had an accident in 2015 and broke his legs, nearly ending his career. Today he saved a blindness of six towards the boundary rope, excellent from Pooran. pic.twitter.com/ZnRaawszQL
– Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) September 27, 2020
That Pooran stop … how ?! As well as?! #RRvKXIP # IPL2020 pic.twitter.com/WGkZtjB2bU
– Chetan Narula (@chetannarula) September 27, 2020
Nicholas Pooran… 😳😳😳😳😳…. I’m not sure I’ve seen anything better
– Scott Styris (@scottbstyris) September 27, 2020
As it does?! 😵# Dream11IPL | #RRvKXIP | Star Sports Network and Disney + Hotstar VIP https://t.co/GwWOCigIoy
– Star Sports (@StarSportsIndia) September 27, 2020
