Dwayne Smith had been unsold in the 2012 IPL auction. But the Caribbean all-rounder was signed by the Mumbai Indians midway through the season, as Mitchell Johnson couldn’t join them due to an injury. Smith, as a result, joined the Mumbai Indians on May 3, and three days later, he made his debut in MI Blues.

Smith’s two overs cost 26 runs, as Chennai Super Kings put on a formidable 173 for eight, in an early match at the Wankhede Stadium. When the floodlights came on, Sachin Tendulkar and Rohit Sharma were on song with the bat, and it looked like Smith’s services would not be required at all. However, then came the unpredictability of the Twenty20 cricket to the fore.

From 134 for one in the 16th over, Mumbai Indians found themselves reeling at 158 for seven at the end of the 19th over. Once Tendulkar and Rohit’s 126-run partnership broke, the Mumbai Indians middle order couldn’t withstand Super King’s charge, losing six wickets for 24 runs. This left Smith, the MI debutant, in the company of Lasith Malinga, with 16 runs required off Ben Hilfenhau’s last over.

Smith could only manage a single off the first ball. And Hilfenhaus then produced a perfect yorker to disturb the woodwork and see Malinga’s back. 15 required off four balls as RP Singh took the guard. And then came the prophetic words: “Take a single and give me the strike, I shall do the rest,”Smith later revealed to have told RP.

RP did precisely that, with the hope that Smith lives up to his word. Three balls, 14 runs. Hilfenhaus ran in, misdirected a yorker, it ended up being a low full-toss and Smith clubbed it for a six straight into the sight screen. Eight required off two.

Another missed yorker, and Smith hit it over Hilfenhau’s head for a one-bounced boundary behind the bowler. Four required off one ball.

It couldn’t get any closer in a Twenty20. It was the moment Paltan had hoped for. All the sweaty afternoon they had spent under a hot sun would have been worth it if Smith could complete a hat-trick of boundaries and see his team through. And the West Indian did not disappoint.

Dwayne Smith had been unsold in the 2012 IPL auction. But the Caribbean all-rounder was signed by the Mumbai Indians midway through the season, as Mitchell Johnson couldn’t join them due to an injury. Smith, as a result, joined the Mumbai Indians on May 3, and three days later, he made his debut in MI Blues.

Smith’s two overs cost 26 runs, as Chennai Super Kings put on a formidable 173 for eight, in an early match at the Wankhede Stadium. When the floodlights came on, Sachin Tendulkar and Rohit Sharma were on song with the bat, and it looked like Smith’s services would not be required at all. However, then came the unpredictability of the Twenty20 cricket to the fore.

From 134 for one in the 16th over, Mumbai Indians found themselves reeling at 158 for seven at the end of the 19th over. Once Tendulkar and Rohit’s 126-run partnership broke, the Mumbai Indians middle order couldn’t withstand Super King’s charge, losing six wickets for 24 runs. This left Smith, the MI debutant, in the company of Lasith Malinga, with 16 runs required off Ben Hilfenhau’s last over.

Smith could only manage a single off the first ball. And Hilfenhaus then produced a perfect yorker to disturb the woodwork and see Malinga’s back. 15 required off four balls as RP Singh took the guard. And then came the prophetic words: “Take a single and give me the strike, I shall do the rest,” Smith later revealed to have told RP.

RP did precisely that, with the hope that Smith lives up to his word. Three balls, 14 runs. Hilfenhaus ran in, misdirected a yorker, it ended up being a low full-toss and Smith clubbed it for a six straight into the sight screen. Eight required off two.

Another missed yorker, and Smith hit it over Hilfenhau’s head for a one-bounced boundary behind the bowler. Four required off one ball.

It couldn’t get any closer in a Twenty20. It was the moment Paltan had hoped for. All the sweaty afternoon they had spent under a hot sun would have been worth it if Smith could complete a hat-trick of boundaries and see his team through. And the West Indian did not disappoint.

The Wankhede Stadium erupted, so did the Mumbai Indians dugout. Smith had indeed arrived, in some style.Having missed two yorkers, Hilfenhaus didn’t attempt another. Instead, he settled for a length ball. But Smith was so confident by then, that he waited for it, and clubbed it past the bowler. The ball crossed the boundary so quickly that even a diving Faf du Plessis; one of the best fielders in the world, couldn’t get his hands to the ball.

The Wankhede Stadium erupted, so did the Mumbai Indians dugout. Smith had indeed arrived, in some style.