Shimron Hetmyer continued his red-hot form in the ongoing US T20 league with another match-winning knock, guiding Seattle to a four-wicket win over San Francisco at Lauderhill on Tuesday. This marked Seattle’s third consecutive last-over victory, with Hetmyer starring in all three chases.
Chasing 169 for victory at the Central Broward Regional Park Stadium Turf Ground after San Francisco posted 168/5, Seattle found themselves in trouble at 56/4 when Hetmyer walked in.
The left-hander weathered the early pressure and counter-attacked in style, finishing with an unbeaten 78 off just 37 deliveries. His innings, laced with four fours and seven sixes, came at a blistering strike rate of 210.81.
Seattle required 80 off 47 balls with half the side back in the dugout, but Hetmyer anchored crucial partnerships - first with Heinrich Klaasen and then with Aaron Jones - to keep the chase on track. He brought up his half-century in just 23 balls with a straight six, showing no signs of slowing down even with wickets down at the other end.
“It's just to make sure that the run-rate doesn't get above 12, really,” Hetmyer reasoned. “(Required run rate of) 10 for me is fine, but once it gets above 12, that takes just a little bit more doing.
“So I just go down to the other partner if he's not striking the ball, I try as much as possible to to give him some energy based, as we say in the Caribbean, some energy and for him to just go out, and for him to also be positive, and to play these strong shots as well, if he can't, just give it back to me, and then I'll see what I can get.”
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Earlier in the tournament, Hetmyer, who plays for the Rajasthan Royals in the Indian Premier League, had produced unbeaten knocks of 97 off 40 balls and 64 off 26, the latter sealed with a last-ball six.
With three high-impact innings in a row, all in successful chases, Hetmyer has not only turned games for Seattle but is also shaping up to be one of the standout performers of the tournament.
“I guess prayers help,” Hetmyer said. “Me and my wife do a lot of praying. It just helps us a little bit, and also a clear mind helps because I guess in different situations, you could think that you have to play differently, but I guess right now I'm not thinking like overthinking the game.
“I'm just going out and executing and trying to play my strong shots, and so far, it's been working,” the West Indian continued. “I guess now, I'm trying to access the offside a lot more than I used to.
“I think before, I was just always trying to drag the ball leg-side… But now I'm trying to hold my shape for as long as possible, and I'm trying to hit the ball where it's going, and so far, I've been doing a decent enough job. I just have to keep working on it.”
His Rajasthan Royals teammate Nandre Burger also made headlines in the tournament, registering career-best T20 figures of 3/10 to help Texas beat Seattle in Oakland last month.
