When Suryakumar Yadav calmed Akash Parkar in a thriller
Needing six runs off the last ball might seem like a daunting task for even the most experienced cricketer but for Triumph Knights Mumbai North East’s Akash Parkar, he had to battle more than just nerves.
Parkar, who is now a mainstay in the Mumbai cricket team, revealed how Suryakumar Yadav helped him fight through an injury to script a memorable last-ball victory for Triumph Knights against NaMo Bandra Blasters in the first season of T20 Mumbai.
“I got injured in the match before that. My doctor advised eight weeks of rest because of the tear in my elbow. I was a bit disappointed that I could not play anymore,” Akash Parkar told Cricketgraph.
Fortunately, with help from the team physio and support staff, the high-flying all-rounder was able to take to the field.
Suryakumar Yadav advises and departs
When Triumph Knights lost Praful Waghela in the 14th over, an injured but determined Akash Parkar strode out with the scoreboard reading 117/3, the Knights needing a daunting 67 off 34.
Akash Parkar’s struggle due to the injury was evident as he made just four runs in the first nine balls he faced. It was around this time when skipper Suryakumar Yadav stepped in.
“I could not play the shots initially. Suryakumar Yadav advised me to take my time to settle at the crease. I knew I could cover up if I stayed till the end,” he revealed.
Ten deliveries later, the captain lost his wicket. Next in, Aditya Dhumal also mistimed his shot to go back to the pavilion.
The onus fell on Akash Parkar and new batsman Vinayak Bhoir to complete the mammoth task at hand.
“When Suryakumar got out, we needed 58 runs in just under four overs. We knew that we just needed one over to put the opposition team under pressure.”
Parkar power
Akash Parkar, after the initial grind, went berserk along with Bhoir, hammering the bowlers all across the Wankhede Stadium.
“I knew Vinayak Bhoir is a good slogger. We made 23 runs in the penultimate over.”
With 21 needed from the last six deliveries, Parkar cropped up a plan to finish the mission.
“I told Vinayak that he just needed to connect two balls. We cannot lose the match after getting so close,” he disclosed.
Bhoir, as advised, eased the pressure by striking consecutive sixes in the first two balls and managed three runs in the next three deliveries.
The match went down to the wire, with six needed off the last ball and Akash Parkar on strike.
The batsman held his nerves to strike the ball, a low full toss, for a huge six over deep midwicket, snatching an improbable victory.
“The bowler only bowled yorkers in the last over so I was expecting him to do the same. But he missed it and I was able to hit a six on the last ball,” he said.
Parkar ended the innings with 39 runs from 18 balls, smacking four sixes and two fours.
Eventually, Triumph Nights, with their stellar performances, went on to be crowned champions of the first season of T20 Mumbai.