Gul's blow goes unnoticed
ESPNcricinfo presents the plays of the day from Uva v Yorkshire in the opening Champions League T20 match
Firdose Moonda at the Wanderers
09-Oct-2012
David Miller was struck down but returned to win the game for Yorkshire • Getty Images
Body blow of the day
Yorkshire's chase was setting up for a thrilling climax when their chief hope, batsman David Miller had to leave the field with an injury. Miller was attempting a pull off an Umar Gul short ball in the 13th over but edged it into his face, between the grille and peak and immediately went down. The Uva players were at his side, Gul with his arm around Miller, who was bleeding from the nose. He received treatment but had to leave the field with Yorkshire needing 60 to win from 46 balls. Miller sat with an icepack on his face while Dan Hodgson partnered Adil Rashid to take Yorkshire to the brink. Miller returned in the penultimate over to blast Yorkshire to victory with three superb boundary.
Yorkshire's chase was setting up for a thrilling climax when their chief hope, batsman David Miller had to leave the field with an injury. Miller was attempting a pull off an Umar Gul short ball in the 13th over but edged it into his face, between the grille and peak and immediately went down. The Uva players were at his side, Gul with his arm around Miller, who was bleeding from the nose. He received treatment but had to leave the field with Yorkshire needing 60 to win from 46 balls. Miller sat with an icepack on his face while Dan Hodgson partnered Adil Rashid to take Yorkshire to the brink. Miller returned in the penultimate over to blast Yorkshire to victory with three superb boundary.
Head count of the day
It may have been too much to expect South Africans to turn up at the Wanderers to watch a match between an English and a Sri Lankan team on a Tuesday afternoon. Work, school and cricketing fatigue were all contributing factors. But the turn-out was still hugely disappointing. As the teams stepped onto the field, there were more dancers than spectators and it remained that way for most of the afternoon.
It may have been too much to expect South Africans to turn up at the Wanderers to watch a match between an English and a Sri Lankan team on a Tuesday afternoon. Work, school and cricketing fatigue were all contributing factors. But the turn-out was still hugely disappointing. As the teams stepped onto the field, there were more dancers than spectators and it remained that way for most of the afternoon.
Surprise tactic of the day
Even though both teams were likely to know very little about each other, Yorkshire decided to throw up an additional curveball as soon as the match started. After choosing to field on a hard, green surface, they handed the ball to Joe Root to open their campaign. Root has been used regularly to bowl Yorkshire's first T20 over but with little success - an economy of nine-an-over and only two wickets. Bowling on a non-turning surface to accomplished players of spin also did not prove too successful as Bhanuka Rajapaksa drove him through the covers for four. Root did not bowl again.
Even though both teams were likely to know very little about each other, Yorkshire decided to throw up an additional curveball as soon as the match started. After choosing to field on a hard, green surface, they handed the ball to Joe Root to open their campaign. Root has been used regularly to bowl Yorkshire's first T20 over but with little success - an economy of nine-an-over and only two wickets. Bowling on a non-turning surface to accomplished players of spin also did not prove too successful as Bhanuka Rajapaksa drove him through the covers for four. Root did not bowl again.
The perfect response
Rajapaksa's treatment of the Yorkshire bowlers did not end there. He greeted Adil Rashid's long-hop with a glorious pull over the midwicket boundary which was hit so hard that the ball was found to be out of shape. Rashid responded with a flat, straight delivery that Rajapaksa backed away to hit to the off side but moved too far found his leg stump pegged back.
Rajapaksa's treatment of the Yorkshire bowlers did not end there. He greeted Adil Rashid's long-hop with a glorious pull over the midwicket boundary which was hit so hard that the ball was found to be out of shape. Rashid responded with a flat, straight delivery that Rajapaksa backed away to hit to the off side but moved too far found his leg stump pegged back.
Namesake of the day
This year's CLT20 is one of the few 20-over competitions which does not feature Chris Gayle. Although he is not here, the qualifying teams still found a way to conjure up his reputation. Andrew Gale had comments about his name circling the press box (which was also fuller than the stands) and the enthusiasm grew when he hit Jacob Oram for back-to-back fours. But unlike Gayle-with-a-"y", he did not last much longer and was stumped after charging Sachita Senanayake in the next over.
This year's CLT20 is one of the few 20-over competitions which does not feature Chris Gayle. Although he is not here, the qualifying teams still found a way to conjure up his reputation. Andrew Gale had comments about his name circling the press box (which was also fuller than the stands) and the enthusiasm grew when he hit Jacob Oram for back-to-back fours. But unlike Gayle-with-a-"y", he did not last much longer and was stumped after charging Sachita Senanayake in the next over.
Firdose Moonda is ESPNcricinfo's South Africa correspondent