WATCH: Benched for last few games, Shakib Al Hasan effects spectacular run out to dismiss Kane Williamson

Making a comeback to the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) playing XI this Sunday (October 3), Shakib Al Hasan made an instant impact. Playing against the Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) in his team’s crucial IPL encounter in Dubai, Shakib ran out opposition skipper Kane Williamson with an excellent throw.

Bangladesh all-rounder nailed a direct hit against a batter renowned for sneaking in singles through the smallest of gaps on the outfield and gave KKR a vital breakthrough just after the end of the powerplay.

Williamson, easily SRH’s most skillful batter, had gotten himself set at the time. The Kiwi great was batting 26 not out when he nudged a delivery from Shakib through the on-side. But much to his shock and despair, Shakib got around the ball quicker than he had anticipated and caught him short of the crease.

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Shakib Al Hasan nailed his throw to get Kane Williamson out.

Shakib Al Hasan drowns Kane Williamson with a direct hit

The dismissal came on the fifth ball of the seventh over of the SRH innings, which was the first for Shakib Al Hasan on the night, and thus would’ve been a huge confidence lifter for the cricketer who had been benched up until now for the UAE leg of IPL 2021.

As it happened, Kane Williamson tapped a straight incoming ball from Shakib near the strip and called on his partner Priyam Garg to get going for a quick single.

 

However, in a rare instance, Williamson perhaps misjudged the run as Shakib collected the ball sooner than the batter had thought and succeeded with his aim for the stumps near the bowling mark.

Even then, Williamson might have completed the run if not for the bowler’s direct hit. He absolutely nailed it to perfection and sent the opposition captain and great batter on his way.

It was also a statement of sorts from Shakib’s end after being left out of the playing XI for an extended period despite the conditions in UAE being quite familiar to the Bangladeshi.

But undeniably, Shakib’s absence from the first-choice unit had strong merit behind it. He had struggled for any flow and consistency in either department during the Indian leg of the competition and had seen others in the KKR camp leapfrog him in reckoning.

Shakib Al Hasan made only 38 runs from his 4 outings before the SRH encounter at a strike-rate of just 97.43 and picked up only 3 wickets at an economy rate of 7.21. These numbers don’t do justice to Shakib’s undoubted ability and class at all.