Watch: Soon after engaging in a verbal duel with Brett Lee, India No.9 Zaheer Khan thumped a 144 kph delivery for a six over long-on during an India-Australia ODI in 2007.
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Riling up a tailender is usually an easy route to earn a wicket, but when they actually retaliate with the bat, the move can end up backfiring spectacularly.
Zaheer Khan, despite being a handy bat, usually featured in the bottom three of India’s scoresheet across formats. When the situation demanded, though, Zaheer’s bowling aggression would sometimes seep into his batting too, and he’d end up throwing his bat around for quick runs.
One such instance came in the 2007 India-Australia one-dayer in Mumbai, the seventh game of the series. Australia had already taken an unassailable 4-1 lead, and looked to be cruising to their fifth by leaving India at 64-6 in pursuit of 194 in Mumbai.
India managed to recover to 129-7, but with only the tail left, No.9 Zaheer Khan emerged with a stunning rearguard action. For the next ten overs, he kept Australia on their toes, combining with No.10 Murali Kartik to push India closer. The frustration grew among the Australian players, including Brett Lee, who had a thing or two to say to both the batsmen.
Off the fourth delivery of the 42nd over, Lee surprised Zaheer with a yorker, and while the batsman managed to dig it out, he found himself in front of an intimidating Lee. Words were exchanged between the two.
Off the very next delivery, Zaheer gave a fitting response, smashing a full ball over the long-on fence for a clean six.
He spearheaded the rest of the chase too, helping India to a narrow two-wicket win alongside Kartik, with whom he stitched a 52-run stand.
