Islamabad, May 28, 2025: New Zealand pacer Will O’Rourke almost saw him top a table he wouldn’t want to be at the head of in the Indian Premier League, coming dangerously close to topping a list no bowler wishes to lead.
Representing the Lucknow Super Giants, O’Rourke was smashed for 74 runs in his four-over quota during their loss to Royal Challengers Bengaluru, ranking as the third most expensive bowling performance in IPL history.
This year’s IPL has witnessed all three of the most expensive spells to date. England’s Jofra Archer gave away 76 runs for Rajasthan Royals against Sunrisers Hyderabad, while India’s Mohammed Shami gave 75 runs for Sunrisers against Punjab Kings.
This was only O’Rourke’s third appearance in the 2025 season, having joined the squad as a replacement for the injured Mayank Yadav. Just one match earlier, the 23-year-old had impressed with a 3-27 performance.
Opening the bowling in the second over of the chase after Lucknow posted 227-3, Will O’Rourke was immediately under pressure. He was taken apart by Virat Kohli, who knocked him for five boundaries in a 22-run over.
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His second spell came in the eighth over, where he was hit for a six by Rajat Patidar, but he struck back by dismissing Patidar and then then removed Liam Livingstone lbw for a duck.
However, things unraveled in his final two overs. He went for 17 in the 14th, and was tasked with bowling the 18th with Bengaluru needing 28 runs from the last three overs. Jitesh Sharma went on the attack, smashing him for two sixes and two boundaries, effectively sealing the match. Bengaluru chased the target with eight balls and six wickets in hand, clinching their spot in the playoffs.
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Despite the tough outing, New Zealand’s representation in the knockout stage remains strong. Kyle Jamieson is part of table-toppers Punjab Kings, while white-ball skipper Mitchell Santner, seasoned pacer Trent Boult, and newcomer Bevon Jacobs are all set to play for Mumbai Indians in the postseason.
