IPL 2016: When Sam Billings took a blinder to dismiss MS Dhoni

MS Dhoni and Sam Billings in action during the match

IPL 2016 has already witnessed some unbelievable catches. The spectacular relay catches taken by Shane Watson-David Wiese and Andre Russell-Piyush Chawla have imprinted their names on the IPL history books. The level of fielding has improved by leaps and bounds and the kind of athleticism the players are showing nowadays is truly commendable.

Once again the tournament saw a spectacular catch being taken by Delhi Daredevils player Sam Billings in the game against Rising Pune Supergiants. The young Englishman took a stunner in the boundary line to dismiss the Pune skipper MS Dhoni.

We all know how hard Dhoni hits the cricket ball. So when Dhoni tried to hit Delhi leg-spinner Imran Tahir out of the park, everyone presumed that the ball would easily sail over the boundary line. However, Sam Billings had other ideas. He timed his jump to perfection and caught the ball just inside the boundary rope. That was truly a magnificent effort.

However, his effort couldn’t save his team from losing the game as RPSG beat DD by 7 wickets. Ajinkya Rahane remained unbeaten on 63 off just 48 balls to guide Pune to their 3rd victory of the season. The skipper Dhoni also contributed well as he scored 27 off just 20 balls before he was undone by the stunning catch.  

Dhoni was hitting the ball quite well and he was particularly severe on Mohammad Shami as he hit him for 14 runs in an over. Shami conceded 20 runs in that over(5 wides and Rahane scored 1) and it was the over that tilted the game in favour of the Pune team. 

However, in the next over, Dhoni tried to go big against the wily leggie Tahir. Despite connecting the ball well, the Pune skipper was left dumbfounded as Sam Billings took that brilliant catch. 

When Dhoni hits it, it generally stays a hit. It requires a special effort like that to keep his marauding strokes inside the boundary line!