Published 16:08 IST, September 19th 2018
WATCH: Adil Rashid recreates Shane Warne's 'ball of the century' in the fifth Test against India; Twitter goes crazy
Adil Rashid bowled brilliant leg-break to get rid of KL Rahul on the fifth day against India, which seemed similar to Shane Warne's 'ball of the century'
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Remember Shane Warne, and two of his famous dismissals? The Australian leg-spinning great dismissed England's Mike Gatting in 1993 with a ball which spun miles. Warne repeated his feat again, this time against Andrew Strauss in 2005, with yet another delivery which had insane spin in it. Both the deliveries are considered as two of the greatest deliveries of all time, with the 1993 wicket termed as the 'ball of the century'.
And now, it seems the cricket fans have witnessed the 'ball of 21st century'! In the final innings of fifth Test between England and India at Oval, Adil Rashid, yet another leg-spinner, got rid of a well-set KL Rahul with spinning ball as good as that of Warne, if not better.
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He took the wicket in the first ball of the 82nd over of the final innings. India, chasing an astonishing 464, were looking set for the impossible. Rahul was unbeaten on 149, and was supported brilliantly by Rishabh Pant, who had scored his maiden test century and was 113 at that stage. All the England bowlers were struggling to stop the attack of the two batsmen. The spinners, Rashid and Moeen Ali, were being attacked mercilessly.
But just when all hopes seemed lost, Rashid delivered the big wicket in style. Bowling around the wicket to Rahul, he delivered the ball right in the rough, which made it spin big time. The batsman, standing on the backfoot, hoping to deadbat it, was beaten as the ball clattered into the stumps. It seemed like a carbon-copy of the wicket Warne took in 1993.
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After watching the dismissal, the fans on Twitter were left stunned, and had nothing but praise for Rashid.
Prior to the dismissal, India, on the back of some aggressive batting by Rahul and Pant, were looking to chase down a gigantic total on the final day. Having started the day at 58 for 3, the visitors lost two wickets in no time, as Ajinkya Rahane and first innings star Hanuma Vihari were back to the pavilion. When it seemed that the game may end by lunch, two future generation players of Indian cricket showed their talent, and rescued India back from the clutches.
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Rahul was attacking right from the offset, but the introduction of Pant saw the opener taking his time. The two shared a brilliant 204-run partnership, and reached their respective century mark respectively. But just when it seemed India will successfully chase down the highest fourth innings total, Rashid struck.
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21:50 IST, September 11th 2018