Narine's latest magic trick
Plays of the day from the first T20 international between Sri Lanka and West Indies
Andrew Fidel Fernando in Pallekele
09-Nov-2015
Tillakaratne Dilshan was bowled between his legs • AFP
The Arjuna impression
Arjuna Ranatunga, once Sri Lanka's chief needler, used to amble between the wickets and invite fielders to have a shy at the stumps, as he stood a metre out from the popping crease. When they threw the ball, he'd quickly ground his bat and look for an overthrow. Tillakaratne Dilshan hasn't quite got Ranatunga's talent for irking opposition, but he did try this move at least twice. West Indies' fielders were too smart to be sucked in, though. Perhaps if Dilshan gained 20kg and gave off the impression he couldn't get his bat down in time, it might work.
Arjuna Ranatunga, once Sri Lanka's chief needler, used to amble between the wickets and invite fielders to have a shy at the stumps, as he stood a metre out from the popping crease. When they threw the ball, he'd quickly ground his bat and look for an overthrow. Tillakaratne Dilshan hasn't quite got Ranatunga's talent for irking opposition, but he did try this move at least twice. West Indies' fielders were too smart to be sucked in, though. Perhaps if Dilshan gained 20kg and gave off the impression he couldn't get his bat down in time, it might work.
The lost ball
Sunil Narine can make the ball do unexpected things, but he seemed to make it disappear altogether in his first over. Kusal Perera tried to heave a short delivery through the leg side, but managed only to get an under edge to the ball. Wicketkeeper Andre Fletcher first thought the ball had gone to fine leg off, and looked in that direction, then, suddenly concerned the ball had travelled straight up, looked for it in the air. Only several seconds later did he discover the ball had rolled off the batsman's pads and was now at his feet.
Sunil Narine can make the ball do unexpected things, but he seemed to make it disappear altogether in his first over. Kusal Perera tried to heave a short delivery through the leg side, but managed only to get an under edge to the ball. Wicketkeeper Andre Fletcher first thought the ball had gone to fine leg off, and looked in that direction, then, suddenly concerned the ball had travelled straight up, looked for it in the air. Only several seconds later did he discover the ball had rolled off the batsman's pads and was now at his feet.
The celebration
Dilshan aimed a switch-hit slog sweep off Kieron Pollard in the 12th over, but the bowler had changed up his pace and sent down a loopy full toss that passed between the batsman's legs to bowl him. As Dilshan made his way off the field, Pollard thumbed through an invisible manual, as if to say: "I read him like a book."
Dilshan aimed a switch-hit slog sweep off Kieron Pollard in the 12th over, but the bowler had changed up his pace and sent down a loopy full toss that passed between the batsman's legs to bowl him. As Dilshan made his way off the field, Pollard thumbed through an invisible manual, as if to say: "I read him like a book."
The comeback
Dushmantha Chameera touched 140kph in his first ever T20 international over, but saw the ball disappear to the fence even more quickly. Andre Russell and Fletcher combined to hit three sixes, and score 19 runs, off his first over. It was enough for captain Lasith Malinga to discontinue that spell, but when Chameera was brought on from the other end, he made amends. First delivery, he ran his fingers over the ball and dialed down the pace. The 122kph delivery hit the top of Fletcher's off stump, ending West Indies' best innings of the evening.
Dushmantha Chameera touched 140kph in his first ever T20 international over, but saw the ball disappear to the fence even more quickly. Andre Russell and Fletcher combined to hit three sixes, and score 19 runs, off his first over. It was enough for captain Lasith Malinga to discontinue that spell, but when Chameera was brought on from the other end, he made amends. First delivery, he ran his fingers over the ball and dialed down the pace. The 122kph delivery hit the top of Fletcher's off stump, ending West Indies' best innings of the evening.
Andrew Fidel Fernando is ESPNcricinfo's Sri Lanka correspondent. @andrewffernando