Munaweera, the first-ball menace
Plays of the day from the match between Barbados Tridents and Northern Knights in Bangalore
Abhishek Purohit
30-Sep-2014
Beware the first ball from Dilshan Munaweera • BCCI
First ball again
Dilshan Munaweera had removed Aiden Blizzard with his first ball when Barbados Tridents played Hobart Hurricanes, as the left-hander cut straight to short third man. Against Northern Knights, Munaweera was brought on in the 11th over to bowl his offspin with a steady partnership having developed between Anton Devcich and Daniel Flynn. Flynn bats left-handed too and he cut Munaweera's first ball too, only to edge it behind.
The relay again
Tim Southee and Daryl Mitchell had already pulled off a relay catch against Lahore Lions in the qualifiers. When Jonathan Carter swung Ish Sodi towards the deep-midwicket boundary, Devcich was around. He calmly took it inches inside and planted his left foot firmly into the ground to keep it from touching the rope. He then turned around coolly to see Mitchell - again - to his right. Devcich waited till Mitchell had jogged closer to him, and lobbed the ball to his team-mate to send Carter back.
Tim Southee and Daryl Mitchell had already pulled off a relay catch against Lahore Lions in the qualifiers. When Jonathan Carter swung Ish Sodi towards the deep-midwicket boundary, Devcich was around. He calmly took it inches inside and planted his left foot firmly into the ground to keep it from touching the rope. He then turned around coolly to see Mitchell - again - to his right. Devcich waited till Mitchell had jogged closer to him, and lobbed the ball to his team-mate to send Carter back.
The struggle and the end
Devcich made 47, but he also consumed as many deliveries for it. His last three balls summed up his innings. Munaweera bowled a flighted full toss outside off, but Devcich missed it. He responded with a charge next ball, only to convert it into a yorker and jam it back to the bowler. He cracked the third ball powerfully but straight to extra cover, who sent Devcich on his way with a direct hit at the non-striker's end.
Devcich made 47, but he also consumed as many deliveries for it. His last three balls summed up his innings. Munaweera bowled a flighted full toss outside off, but Devcich missed it. He responded with a charge next ball, only to convert it into a yorker and jam it back to the bowler. He cracked the third ball powerfully but straight to extra cover, who sent Devcich on his way with a direct hit at the non-striker's end.
The surprise strike
Flynn had a poor tournament in the main draw, starting with successive ducks against against Hurricanes and Cape Cobras. His 21 tonight gave him 33 runs from four matches, but the way he began his innings today made him look like the opposite of a batsman short on form. Kyle Mayers slanted a fuller delivery across Flynn, who flowed into a drive and launched the ball high over extra cover with enough on it to clear the boundary easily.
Flynn had a poor tournament in the main draw, starting with successive ducks against against Hurricanes and Cape Cobras. His 21 tonight gave him 33 runs from four matches, but the way he began his innings today made him look like the opposite of a batsman short on form. Kyle Mayers slanted a fuller delivery across Flynn, who flowed into a drive and launched the ball high over extra cover with enough on it to clear the boundary easily.
The stunning take
Munaweera had already crashed four fours in his 20 when he smashed Mitchell Santner flat through the covers. It seemed to be a certain boundary but Daryl Mitchell flew full-length to his right at the edge of the circle and pouched a one-handed stunner.
Munaweera had already crashed four fours in his 20 when he smashed Mitchell Santner flat through the covers. It seemed to be a certain boundary but Daryl Mitchell flew full-length to his right at the edge of the circle and pouched a one-handed stunner.
Abhishek Purohit is a senior sub-editor at ESPNcricinfo