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Chris Jordan explains the ‘baffling’ route he ran on last ball of KXIP tie with Mumbai Indians

by Josef Rindl October 22, 2020 - 7:09pm 5 minute read

Chris Jordan has explained the circuitous route he took when attempting a second run on the last ball of the main match of Kings XI Punjab’s super over win against Mumbai Indians.

The England quick ran a wide arc after turning at the non-striker’s end, also neglecting to dive, and was run out by inches to leave the match tied. Jordan’s running sparked mirth and bafflement in equal measure, with West Indies legend Brian Lara one of the more notable names to have some fun at Jordan’s expense.

How good is Brian Lara's re-enactment of Chris Jordan's running from last night's super over? 😂#IPL2020 | 📽️ @StarSportsIndia pic.twitter.com/skZRt3kyQg

— Wisden India (@WisdenIndia) October 19, 2020

Jordan, while admitting his route appeared “baffling”, has since explained the reasons behind his unusual running line.

“I know watching from the outside, that route I took to come back for the second looked baffling,” he told Wisden.com as part of an interview also covering Black Lives Matter. “But I actually lost my footing on my turn at the non-striker’s end. If I’d tried to go back in the same direction I definitely would have slipped up and fallen down.

Absolute scenes. #IPL2020 pic.twitter.com/NiHsFcG4le

— Wisden (@WisdenCricket) October 18, 2020

“I changed my line to get back to the other end and almost made it; the ball hit my foot on the way too so I thought it deflected which is why I didn’t dive, and it was just short.”

At the time, it felt like Jordan might have played his part in costing KXIP another game they should have finished off much sooner. Against Delhi Capitals, with a single needed off the final ball, he was dismissed to take the game to a super over, which Jordan’s side ultimately lost.

“When that happens, you’re thinking: ‘Not again’. It happened in the first game against Delhi, where I creamed one, middle of the bat, [Kagiso] Rabada takes a screamer and we draw that game and lose that super over.”

However on this occasion, after a tied first super over, Jordan was called upon to bowl the second super over, keeping Mumbai Indians to 11 runs, with Kings XI emerging victorious. “It really felt like we won a final,” said Jordan.