A maiden record, and a penchant to pull
Plays of the day from the fourth day of the Bulawayo Test between Zimbabwe and Pakistan
Firdose Moonda in Bulawayo
04-Sep-2011
At one point, Ray Price had conceded fewer runs than the number of overs bowled • AFP
Reward of the day
Ray Price had bowled 37 overs of strangling spin but suddenly Younis Khan threatened to destroy his figures, hitting him over his head for a stunning six. Price would have his revenge six overs - five of which were consecutive maidens - later. He bowled a near full toss that Younis edged while trying to drive. The ball bounced off wicketkeeper Tatenda Taibu's pads and Brendan Taylor completed a sharp catch at slip. It was sweet reward for Price, who bowled the record number of maidens by a Zimbabwean bowler in an innings, and sweet relief for Taylor, who had dropped two catches at slip in the previous two days. Price ended with figures of 50.1-24-69-2.
Ray Price had bowled 37 overs of strangling spin but suddenly Younis Khan threatened to destroy his figures, hitting him over his head for a stunning six. Price would have his revenge six overs - five of which were consecutive maidens - later. He bowled a near full toss that Younis edged while trying to drive. The ball bounced off wicketkeeper Tatenda Taibu's pads and Brendan Taylor completed a sharp catch at slip. It was sweet reward for Price, who bowled the record number of maidens by a Zimbabwean bowler in an innings, and sweet relief for Taylor, who had dropped two catches at slip in the previous two days. Price ended with figures of 50.1-24-69-2.
Obsession of the day
Vusi Sibanda is addicted to the pull shot. He tried to play it to the fourth ball he faced, a delivery that was not short enough to pull. Luckily for him, he didn't make contact. Six ball later, he couldn't control the urge to do it again. Again, the length was not short enough, but he went for it and tamely lobbed the ball to mid-on, where Saeed Ajmal took a simple catch. He has been out pulling five times this summer and was caught in front of square each time.
Vusi Sibanda is addicted to the pull shot. He tried to play it to the fourth ball he faced, a delivery that was not short enough to pull. Luckily for him, he didn't make contact. Six ball later, he couldn't control the urge to do it again. Again, the length was not short enough, but he went for it and tamely lobbed the ball to mid-on, where Saeed Ajmal took a simple catch. He has been out pulling five times this summer and was caught in front of square each time.
Blooper of the day
Aizaz Cheema was guilty of the funniest fielding error when he allowed a ball to slip through his legs at mid-on. Lamb drove straight to him but, instead of scooping it up effortlessly, Cheema let the ball trickle past and towards the boundary. He pulled it in before it could cross over, though, only giving away two runs. Cheema had just completed an eight-over spell in hot conditions and Adnan Akmal forgave him immediately with a polite, "Nevermind." Locals like to call such mishaps on the field, "village," and had Zimbabwe been in a better position when it happened, there might have been jeering at that error.
Aizaz Cheema was guilty of the funniest fielding error when he allowed a ball to slip through his legs at mid-on. Lamb drove straight to him but, instead of scooping it up effortlessly, Cheema let the ball trickle past and towards the boundary. He pulled it in before it could cross over, though, only giving away two runs. Cheema had just completed an eight-over spell in hot conditions and Adnan Akmal forgave him immediately with a polite, "Nevermind." Locals like to call such mishaps on the field, "village," and had Zimbabwe been in a better position when it happened, there might have been jeering at that error.
Best actor of the day
When Sohail Khan misjudged what should have been a sitter at mid-off in the over before tea, he made the catch look much harder than it was. The ball was hit in the air not too far over Sohail's head. He had to backpedal a little and time his jump, but he did neither and allowed the ball to go through for four. Just as he saw the ball sail over him, however, Sohail dropped to the floor and rolled emphatically, twice. It was a convincing act for his team-mates did not have a word to say to him.
When Sohail Khan misjudged what should have been a sitter at mid-off in the over before tea, he made the catch look much harder than it was. The ball was hit in the air not too far over Sohail's head. He had to backpedal a little and time his jump, but he did neither and allowed the ball to go through for four. Just as he saw the ball sail over him, however, Sohail dropped to the floor and rolled emphatically, twice. It was a convincing act for his team-mates did not have a word to say to him.
Firdose Moonda is ESPNcricinfo's South Africa correspondent