Centuries and Five Wicket Hauls in T20 Format.
When the concept of T20 cricket was devised, one thing was for sure in everybody's mind that centuries in the shortest form of game would be a rarity because a total of 120 deliveries in a entire innings is not enough. Another thing too was confirmed that there would be no five wicket hauls because 24 deliveries for a bowler was too few.
However to everyones surprise the century scored by Warner for Delhi against Kolkatta was the second in this edition of IPL and the 10th in the history of Indian Premier League. If a batsmen who has a orthodox technique is to plan his innings, then scoring a century in T20 format is very much possible especially if you are opener. Warner was fortunate on two counts, firstly his team got a chance to bat first, and secondly he got to face 67 deliveries as he batted through out the innings in the capacity of an opener.
If you are in the team as a opener and make up your mind to bat out the entire innings after winning the toss, then you are bound to face at least 60 deliveries i.e. if you are able to garner 50% of the strike. If you get 25% loose deliveries are are able to put it to the boundary then you get 60 runs of 15 deliveries In the remaining 45 deliveries if you leave out the quota of dot balls, pushes and nudges for singles and twos is enough to ensure that you get a century of 60 odd deliveries.
In the history of one dayers there have been 64 occasions when batsmen have scored a century in less than 80 deliveries. Sanath Jayasurya has got a century is less than 80 deliveries on 8 occasions, while Sehwag has performed the feat on 6 occasions. If scoring a century in 60 to 80 deliveries is not a big deal in one dayers played at leisurely pace, then scoring a century in T20 should not be difficult provided you get an opportunity to bat throughout the innings and are able to corner most of the strike.
Similary 5 wicket hauls which were considered impossible in T20 have become a reality. This is due to the fact that if one team put up a huge score like 220 odd, then the other team have to go bersek right from the first delivery as there is no time for playing in or planning the innings. As a result of the mounting rate batsmen playing too many shots and sometimes of deliveries which need to be left one, wickets are lost at regular intervals. We have seen teams getting all out in 20 overs which could not have been imagined a couple of years back in a one dayers. Another reason which goes in bowlers favour is that batsmen play more freely since there is no pressure on them if they get out, for they are required to bat an average of three to four over only.
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