Thirimanne's punch, turn and grab
Plays of the Day from the Asia Cup clash between Bangladesh and Sri Lanka in Mirpur
Karthik Krishnaswamy in Mirpur
06-Mar-2014
Jump up, punch the ball, tumble down, adjust body, and dive forward. A catch in Lahiru Thirimanne's books. • Associated Press
The Sham-scoop
Shamsur Rahman was looking good and had already struck six fours when Ajantha Mendis came on to bowl his first over. Mendis didn't start particularly well, and conceded five singles in his first five balls. Last ball of the over, Shamsur decided to do something cheeky to show who was boss. Having taken a big step forward even before Mendis released, Shamsur went down on one knee and nonchalantly flicked the ball over his own shoulder for four.
Shamsur Rahman was looking good and had already struck six fours when Ajantha Mendis came on to bowl his first over. Mendis didn't start particularly well, and conceded five singles in his first five balls. Last ball of the over, Shamsur decided to do something cheeky to show who was boss. Having taken a big step forward even before Mendis released, Shamsur went down on one knee and nonchalantly flicked the ball over his own shoulder for four.
The two-step catch
Judging that an airy Anamul Haque flick off Ashan Priyanjan was too far above his head for the simple overhead grab, Lahiru Thirimanne jumped as high as he could and punched the ball with his palms like a goalkeeper tipping a fierce shot over the crossbar. Thirimanne wasn't a goalkeeper, and his work wasn't done yet. Having tumbled to the ground, he corkscrewed himself to face the ball once more and completed a diving catch inches from the turf.
Judging that an airy Anamul Haque flick off Ashan Priyanjan was too far above his head for the simple overhead grab, Lahiru Thirimanne jumped as high as he could and punched the ball with his palms like a goalkeeper tipping a fierce shot over the crossbar. Thirimanne wasn't a goalkeeper, and his work wasn't done yet. Having tumbled to the ground, he corkscrewed himself to face the ball once more and completed a diving catch inches from the turf.
The edge to first slip
Al-Amin Hossain angled the ball across Kumar Sangakkara, and got it to leave him slightly after pitching. It wasn't pitched full enough for Sangakkara to drive, and the ball bounced and took his outside edge. It carried at an awkward chest height to Nasir Hossain, and it popped out of his hands at the first attempt. Bangladesh's collective heart made a trip to its collective mouth, before the country heaved a collective sigh of relief as Hossain clung on at the second attempt.
Al-Amin Hossain angled the ball across Kumar Sangakkara, and got it to leave him slightly after pitching. It wasn't pitched full enough for Sangakkara to drive, and the ball bounced and took his outside edge. It carried at an awkward chest height to Nasir Hossain, and it popped out of his hands at the first attempt. Bangladesh's collective heart made a trip to its collective mouth, before the country heaved a collective sigh of relief as Hossain clung on at the second attempt.
The edge to theoretical slip
Ziaur Rahman had been getting the ball to bounce awkwardly from back of a length, and had beaten Ashan Priyanjan with one such delivery before getting him caught behind with another. Despite this, even when Sri Lanka were five down for 80, Bangladesh captain Mushfiqur Rahim didn't have a slip in place for Ziaur. As if on cue, Ziaur produced another lifter. Angelo Mathews jabbed at it, and the edge flew for four, agonisingly close to the right glove of a desperately diving wicketkeeper.
Ziaur Rahman had been getting the ball to bounce awkwardly from back of a length, and had beaten Ashan Priyanjan with one such delivery before getting him caught behind with another. Despite this, even when Sri Lanka were five down for 80, Bangladesh captain Mushfiqur Rahim didn't have a slip in place for Ziaur. As if on cue, Ziaur produced another lifter. Angelo Mathews jabbed at it, and the edge flew for four, agonisingly close to the right glove of a desperately diving wicketkeeper.
Karthik Krishnaswamy is a senior sub-editor at ESPNcricinfo