Anrich Nortje revealed that he had no idea he had broken the record for the fastest delivery in IPL history until the post-match presentation after the Delhi Capitals victory over the Rajasthan Royals.
Nortje oblivious to record
Nortje came back from an early pasting at the hands of England superstar Jos Buttler, firing through the Royals openers defences with a scorching full delivery that beat him for pace.
That delivery was clocked at 155.21 km/h but Nortje’s top speed in his four overs against the Royals was an incredible 156.2 km/h which broke his compatriot Dale Steyn’s IPL record of 154.4 km/h.
Video courtesy of BCCI.
Nortje opted to stick to his guns in the face of the Buttler assault and it paid off for him.
“No idea I bowled at 156ks tonight but good to hear it,” Nortje told Star Sports’ Mark Nicholas after match.
“Been feeling really good so it is nice to see some results. Jis played them really well. Ja I thought I was a touch full. The first ball I didn’t expect him to go. Ja I thought it was best to stick to my strength: trying to hit the stumps and bowl fast. Maybe he was expecting something else, a short ball or something. We have got a good coach, and obviously working with KG and other fast bowlers. Tushar has been nailing the yorkers in the nets.”
Lethal partnership
A dropped catch was the biggest blemish on Nortje’s record in the game but it is clear that he brings so much to this Royals team and his partnership with Kagiso Rabada is one that should excite Proteas fans.
Nortje has formed a deadly partnership with Rabada as the express options for Capitals skipper Shreyas Iyer.
Iyer missed the post-match presentation after sustaining an injury during the contest but opener and India international Shikhar Dhawan lauded the impact of Nortje and Rabada who fill the team with confidence when defending targets.
“We always believed we had a chance. We knew their batting is not that deep. We knew we could get into them if we got the top order. And we have got experience in the bowling. Now we have got a gun bowler in Anrich. And Tushar bowled smartly too, bowling slower balls, making them hit to the bigger boundary.”
The victory sends the Capitals back to the top of the IPL standings for the time being.
Watch: Anrich Nortje accepts MoM award
