Shimron Hetmyer smashed a last-ball six and finished with an unbeaten 97 off just 40 balls to power Seattle to a record run chase against New York in the T20 tournament being held in the United States on Friday.
Needing nine off the last over against Kieron Pollard, Hetmyer soaked up the pressure before launching the final delivery of the match over fine leg and sparking emotional celebrations in the Seattle camp.
Earlier, chasing 238 for victory, Seattle were reduced to 107/4 in the eighth over before Hetmyer stepped in and produced a Player of the Match performance.
“This one is one of the best (knocks) because of the fact that we were basically backed against the wall in a situation where we really needed to win,” Hetmyer said.
“I think prayers always help (to get big scores),” he continued. “My wife always tells me that it doesn't make sense for you to do things, do things on your own. Just make sure to pray before you do anything. And I think today, as well, is one of those days where I just went to a really clear mind.”
The West Indian brought up his half-century in just 22 balls and continued to play aggressively despite visibly limping between the wickets in the second half of his innings.
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Shimron Hetmyer, who plays for the Rajasthan Royals in the Indian Premier League, struck five fours and nine sixes in his innings, including three sixes off Ehsan Adil in the penultimate over, which brought the equation down to 9 off 6.
Pollard nearly dragged the game in New York’s favour again but Hetmyer’s final strike tilted the scales one last time and gave Seattle the victory.
With his effort, Hetmyer also anchored the highest successful run chase in the history of the US T20 league.
Shimron Hetmyer scored 239 runs at a strike rate of 145.73 in IPL 2025. Overall in T20s, he now has 5352 runs in 276 matches at a strike rate of 138.90. He has scored 26 fifties and one century.
Nandre Burger is another Royal plying his trade in the US T20 tournament. Last week, the South African pacer picked up 3/10, to record his career-best T20 bowling figures, to help Seattle beat Texas in Oakland.
