The evolution of T20 cricket has reached a point where refusing to take a wicket might just be the best strategy, as Nicholas Pooran showed in the ILT20 competition.
Playing for MI Emirates, Pooran had one of the easiest stumping opportunities you’ll ever see as Desert Vipers batter Max Holden charged down the pitch to bowler Rashid Khan.
However, Pooran simply stood there and allowed Holden to dart back into his crease.
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“Oh! He did not stump him. Did not stump him,” the commentator says on the broadcast.
“Wide is called. Could have stumped him by some distance.”
Nicholas Pooran refuses to stump Marcus Holden. Twitter
Pooran’s decision seemingly came due to the fact Holden was struggling to score runs, having hit just three boundaries for his 42 runs off 36 deliveries.
With only four overs remaining in the match, they were happy for him to stay put with the Vipers having explosive hitter Shimron Hetmyer in next to bat.
However, the English batter clearly knew it wasn’t his night and after another big swing and miss the following delivery, he retired and walked off the field.
It’s not often a keeper refuses a stumping one ball and a batter walks off under their own power after the next one.
Hetmyer came out and hit 15 off nine balls before Dan Lawrence scored 15 off eight.
The Vipers would ultimately set 159 and won by one run after MI Emirates managed 158 in the second innings.
Holden’s call to walk off in the end might have been the difference.