Proteas fast bowler Kagiso Rabada used the yorker to lethal effect against Kolkata Knight Riders by defending 11 runs during the super over to award Delhi Capitals the win.
Rabada backed his yorker delivery against a rampant Andre Russell during their encounter in the Indian Premier League despite having previously suffered at the hands of the powerhouse West Indian.
READ MORE: Rabada magic clinches Super Over win
On a batsman-dominated day, it was Rabada who dealt the decisive blow with his flurry of yorkers during the decisive over. The paceman, who will be South Africa’s main quick at the upcoming World Cup, said he was confident of bowling the delivery.
Delhi capitals had a choice of essentially 3 bowlers to bowl th super over. They decided to back class.#KagisoRabada
— Sanjay Manjrekar (@sanjaymanjrekar) March 30, 2019
‘I felt my yorker was coming out decently this game, so that’s what got me to back to it even more,’ he said. ‘And I think it’s important to really be clear and you need to be sure of what you’re doing, whatever ball you bowl.
‘That was my plan and that’s all I tried to do, and on a different day, it could be totally something else. On a different day, you could be part of two things that you want to do, but today it was just one and that was yorkers, and I’m really glad it came off.’
READ ALSO: Rabada looks forward to IPL
Kagiso Rabada backs up Prithvi Shaw's chase efforts with a superb Super Over! https://t.co/j5Of0fbc1j #IPL2019 #DCvKKR pic.twitter.com/TJEdOrpV25
— ESPNcricinfo (@ESPNcricinfo) March 30, 2019
Rabada also commented on why bowlers have shied away from using the delivery at the death (considering how effective it has continuously proven to be) by sharing that the reluctance stems from fear of missing the length, even marginally.
‘Sometimes, you miss your yorker, you say you’re going to bowl a yorker and then it comes out as a length ball,’ the paceman said. ‘It is amazing how many times that has happened. Actually, we’re supposed to be professional cricketers. But that just shows you, you’re not always going to feel a 100 percent.’
Photo: Ron Gaunt /Sportzpics/BCCI