Mendis' googlies, Shahzad's slog
The Plays of the day of the ODI between Afghanistan and Sri Lanka
Mohammad Isam and Karthik Krishnaswamy
03-Mar-2014
Mohammad Shahzad went for one slog too many • Associated Press
Six and out
Mohammad Shahzad is capable of some spectacular hitting. He once struck an unbeaten 72-ball 100 as Afghanistan chased down 225 in 31 overs against Scotland. He showed a glimpse of that ability when he waltzed down the track to Suranga Lakmal and flayed him for a flat six over cover. Next ball, however, he lost his head. He came down the track again, gave himself room again, and lost his stumps as he slogged across the line.
Mohammad Shahzad is capable of some spectacular hitting. He once struck an unbeaten 72-ball 100 as Afghanistan chased down 225 in 31 overs against Scotland. He showed a glimpse of that ability when he waltzed down the track to Suranga Lakmal and flayed him for a flat six over cover. Next ball, however, he lost his head. He came down the track again, gave himself room again, and lost his stumps as he slogged across the line.
The googly
The carrom ball may be Ajantha Mendis' most talked-about delivery, but some of his most aesthetically pleasing dismissals over the years have been the result of a far more commonplace sort of deception. The googly, often arriving at a slower pace and following a loopier trajectory than most of his deliveries, caused VVS Laxman particular torment during India's 2008 tour of Sri Lanka. Against Afghanistan's lower order, Mendis struck twice with the wrong 'un. Hamza Hotak was lbw playing down the wrong line, Dawlat Zadran was bowled through the gate.
The carrom ball may be Ajantha Mendis' most talked-about delivery, but some of his most aesthetically pleasing dismissals over the years have been the result of a far more commonplace sort of deception. The googly, often arriving at a slower pace and following a loopier trajectory than most of his deliveries, caused VVS Laxman particular torment during India's 2008 tour of Sri Lanka. Against Afghanistan's lower order, Mendis struck twice with the wrong 'un. Hamza Hotak was lbw playing down the wrong line, Dawlat Zadran was bowled through the gate.
The yes-no-sorry
Kumar Sangakkara was looking in the sort of touch that Bangladeshi fans have been seeing for a long time, particularly this season. He was timing the ball well, and battling at times as the run-rate remained steady. But he got out in the 38th over when he tried to take a single but Angelo Mathews first called for the single and turned him down. The throw from Nabi had to be relayed to the stumps, completed superbly by Dawlat Zadran.
Kumar Sangakkara was looking in the sort of touch that Bangladeshi fans have been seeing for a long time, particularly this season. He was timing the ball well, and battling at times as the run-rate remained steady. But he got out in the 38th over when he tried to take a single but Angelo Mathews first called for the single and turned him down. The throw from Nabi had to be relayed to the stumps, completed superbly by Dawlat Zadran.
The surprise
The Sri Lanka openers Kusal Perera and Lahiru Thirimanne would have expected the two Zadrans, Shapoor and Dawlat, to tear into them early on but they had to tackle Najibullah Zadran instead. It was captain Mohammad Nabi's ploy to surprise the two left-handers. There was pace from one end, but at the other it was Najibullah, a part-time offspinner who was having his first bowl in international cricket. He did tidily to give only nine runs in three overs.
The Sri Lanka openers Kusal Perera and Lahiru Thirimanne would have expected the two Zadrans, Shapoor and Dawlat, to tear into them early on but they had to tackle Najibullah Zadran instead. It was captain Mohammad Nabi's ploy to surprise the two left-handers. There was pace from one end, but at the other it was Najibullah, a part-time offspinner who was having his first bowl in international cricket. He did tidily to give only nine runs in three overs.
The repeat dose
Shapoor Zadran uprooted Lahiru Thirimanne's middle-stump in the sixth over. The 133kph delivery slanted into the left-hander and kept the angle as it found the gap between Thirimanne's bat and pad. It was similar to how Shamsur Rahman was cleaned up by the same bowler in Afghanistan's previous game. The similarity was the loose stroke played by both batsmen, and the gleeful celebrations from Shapoor. This time, it was the flying kiss.
Shapoor Zadran uprooted Lahiru Thirimanne's middle-stump in the sixth over. The 133kph delivery slanted into the left-hander and kept the angle as it found the gap between Thirimanne's bat and pad. It was similar to how Shamsur Rahman was cleaned up by the same bowler in Afghanistan's previous game. The similarity was the loose stroke played by both batsmen, and the gleeful celebrations from Shapoor. This time, it was the flying kiss.
Mohammad Isam is ESPNcricinfo's Bangladesh correspondent. He tweets here. Karthik Krishnaswamy is a senior sub-editor at ESPNcricinfo