Thursday, April 23, 2009

rajasthan royals vs kolkata knight riders:a thrilling super over finish

rajasthan royals batting

kolkata knight riders batting


Few people understand talent like Shane Warne and this time the greatest magician of his trade has picked another winner.


Eighteen-year-old Kamran Khan, who bowled that exceptional last over against Kolkata Knight Riders on Thursday, was completely unknown only a month ago. But then he found a golden mentor and already he is front page news.


"His (Warne's) belief in me was really a big thing for me, but I was confident that if threw the ball to me, then I will not let him down," Kamran told reporters after last night's match that Rajasthan Royals won in the 'super over'.Kamran, who hails from the crime-ridden small town of Azamagarh in Uttar Pradesh, moved from there to Mumbai just five years back. Homeless and penniless, Kamran slept on railway platforms. Now he's getting used to five-star comforts.


He grew up playing local tournaments at the Naduwa Sarai village in Mau in UP and even got paid for them. He was spotted by coach Naushad, who took him to Mumbai and groomed him.


Kamran is the youngest among seven brothers and two sisters and lost both his parents when he was young. His family was engaged in beedi making. Kamran studied only till the eighth standard after which he could not pursue studies.


But the fortunes of the former tennis ball tearaway changed drastically when he was spotted at a T20 tournament in Mumbai. One look at him was enough for Warne to put him on the plane to south africa.


"Kamran had to bowl that last over with just six required of it. He held his nerve and bowled so well," Warne said at the post-match presentation.


"He did a good job. And I told him don't worry about the Super Over. If you hadn't bowled such a good last over, we would not have been in this situation," he added.


Asked how the Aussie communicates with Kamran, he said: "There is a bit of Hindi, but mainly English and I am trying to speak slow.


"Kamran sometimes doesn't understand too much but Munaf (Patel) works exceptionally well with Kamran. We try and him down with me at mid on or mid off and then I have a sound with Munaf about what delivery I want."

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