Scurrying batsmen and a little sledger
ESPNcricinfo presents the Plays of the Day from the IPL game between Kochi Tuskers and Kolkata Knight Riders in Kochi
Firdose Moonda
05-May-2011
Mahela Jayawardene finally ran himself out after several attempts • Associated Press
The feeble kiss of death
Jaidev Unadkat didn't manage to bowl the same beauty of a first over Brett Lee did, but he did get the big wicket of Brendon McCullum. Unadkat's fourth ball was the poorest of the legitimate balls he bowled in that over - short, wide and inviting. McCullum slashed at it and got the faintest of edges that carried to Jacques Kallis at slip. For a few seconds, it seemed as though no-one knew he was out and that the bat had just wafted through the air. But the touch, gentle was it was, was enough to give Unadkat his first wicket.
Jaidev Unadkat didn't manage to bowl the same beauty of a first over Brett Lee did, but he did get the big wicket of Brendon McCullum. Unadkat's fourth ball was the poorest of the legitimate balls he bowled in that over - short, wide and inviting. McCullum slashed at it and got the faintest of edges that carried to Jacques Kallis at slip. For a few seconds, it seemed as though no-one knew he was out and that the bat had just wafted through the air. But the touch, gentle was it was, was enough to give Unadkat his first wicket.
The double bluff
Michael Klinger and Mahela Jayawardene put on the highest third-wicket partnership for the Kochi Tuskers, but it wasn't without its nervous moments. After the pair had put on 26 runs and Klinger dropped a delivery into the offside and called for the run. The captain listened to his partner, set off and was then sent back. Kallis had done the fielding off his own bowling and his direct hit splayed the stumps. Jayawardene had to put in a desperate dive at the non-strikers' end and was safe by half a bat. The ricochet allowed the pair to scurry through for a single and Jayawardene had to hurry because there was a shy at the stumps at the other end as well. This time he was well in though.
Michael Klinger and Mahela Jayawardene put on the highest third-wicket partnership for the Kochi Tuskers, but it wasn't without its nervous moments. After the pair had put on 26 runs and Klinger dropped a delivery into the offside and called for the run. The captain listened to his partner, set off and was then sent back. Kallis had done the fielding off his own bowling and his direct hit splayed the stumps. Jayawardene had to put in a desperate dive at the non-strikers' end and was safe by half a bat. The ricochet allowed the pair to scurry through for a single and Jayawardene had to hurry because there was a shy at the stumps at the other end as well. This time he was well in though.
The polyfilla
Iqbal Adbdulla changed ends at the start of the 10th over and was getting ready to deliver his first ball when he abandoned his run up and asked umpire Rod Tucker to move a bit so he had the space he needed. With the umpire out of the way, Abdulla spotted a hole at the top of his run up, in the spot where his back foot would land while delivering. The polyfilla, in the form of dark sand, came out and was used to patch up that area of the pitch.
Iqbal Adbdulla changed ends at the start of the 10th over and was getting ready to deliver his first ball when he abandoned his run up and asked umpire Rod Tucker to move a bit so he had the space he needed. With the umpire out of the way, Abdulla spotted a hole at the top of his run up, in the spot where his back foot would land while delivering. The polyfilla, in the form of dark sand, came out and was used to patch up that area of the pitch.
The confused superstars
Eoin Morgan and Yusuf Pathan are two batsmen that most teams would feel confident having at the crease when the required run-rate is climbing, but the two players seemed a bit confused on the day. Pathan played a Vinay Kumar delivery into the ground that popped up to Ravindra Jadeja at point. While the batsmen were completing a single, Jadeja was celebrating what he thought was a catch and threw the ball into the air. The bowler animatedly indicated that the ball should be fielded and Pathan thought of a second, which almost resulted in him being run out. Kochi didn't have to wait long for the run-out though - it came the very next ball, when Pathan had charged through for a run. Morgan didn't realise his partner was on the move and sacrificed his wicket.
Eoin Morgan and Yusuf Pathan are two batsmen that most teams would feel confident having at the crease when the required run-rate is climbing, but the two players seemed a bit confused on the day. Pathan played a Vinay Kumar delivery into the ground that popped up to Ravindra Jadeja at point. While the batsmen were completing a single, Jadeja was celebrating what he thought was a catch and threw the ball into the air. The bowler animatedly indicated that the ball should be fielded and Pathan thought of a second, which almost resulted in him being run out. Kochi didn't have to wait long for the run-out though - it came the very next ball, when Pathan had charged through for a run. Morgan didn't realise his partner was on the move and sacrificed his wicket.
The little man with a lot to say
It was the end of the 18th over and Kolkata needed 25 off seven balls when Brett Lee came out to bat. He faced Vinay Kumar who hurled a yorker length delivery at the big man's toes, which Lee couldn't squeeze out and missed. As wicketkeeper Parthiv Patel, who is a good foot and a half shorter than Lee, was walking to the other end of the pitch, he stopped to have a few words with his opponent. He had to stand on his tip-toes and crane his neck to have his say, but that did not stop him. It may have had something to do with the 22 Lee conceded off his last over.
Firdose Moonda is ESPNcricinfo's South Africa correspondent