Catches galore in thriller
Plays of the Day from the 1st Twenty20 between Bangladesh and Sri Lanka in Chittagong
Mohammad Isam in Chittagong
12-Feb-2014
Nasir Hossain took a stunner to end Kumar Sangakkara's innings • AFP
The sunglasses
Kumar Sangakkara timed a short Shakib Al Hasan delivery towards midwicket, perhaps hoping to pick up a couple if not a boundary. But as Nasir Hossain hared towards the long-on and midwicket curve, the speed of the pick-up shot was evident. By the time Nasir had taken the catch, the ball was slightly past him. But the most telling piece was when Nasir's sunglasses first bumped up on his forehead, and then fell right into place on the impact of his fall.
Kumar Sangakkara timed a short Shakib Al Hasan delivery towards midwicket, perhaps hoping to pick up a couple if not a boundary. But as Nasir Hossain hared towards the long-on and midwicket curve, the speed of the pick-up shot was evident. By the time Nasir had taken the catch, the ball was slightly past him. But the most telling piece was when Nasir's sunglasses first bumped up on his forehead, and then fell right into place on the impact of his fall.
The gymnast
Kusal Perara was starting to settle down after crossing fifty, but Anamul Haque's gymnastic landing brought an end to his innings. He stood at deep midwicket and just as the ball was going to sail over his head, he caught the ball, turned and twisted, and made sure he balanced himself awkwardly at first, and then like a balance beam gymnast, on one leg.
Kusal Perara was starting to settle down after crossing fifty, but Anamul Haque's gymnastic landing brought an end to his innings. He stood at deep midwicket and just as the ball was going to sail over his head, he caught the ball, turned and twisted, and made sure he balanced himself awkwardly at first, and then like a balance beam gymnast, on one leg.
The smack
Shamsur Rahman had just smacked Ajantha Mendis to the left of mid-off but the batsman suddenly crumpled to the ground. In his follow through, the bat had swung back and struck him in the back of his head. The physio came out, and there was no joy of playing such a class shot.
Shamsur Rahman had just smacked Ajantha Mendis to the left of mid-off but the batsman suddenly crumpled to the ground. In his follow through, the bat had swung back and struck him in the back of his head. The physio came out, and there was no joy of playing such a class shot.
The sight
Tamim Iqbal was on fire when his innings was cut short by an excellent running catch, perhaps the best technical catch of the day compared to Nasir and Anamul's pyrotechnics. As Tamim miscued the ball, Angelo Mathews ran back from midwicket, dived full length and completed the catch perfectly. The best part of the catch was his eye level, which never wavered despite the difficulty in turning back and finding the ball in the right trajectory.
Tamim Iqbal was on fire when his innings was cut short by an excellent running catch, perhaps the best technical catch of the day compared to Nasir and Anamul's pyrotechnics. As Tamim miscued the ball, Angelo Mathews ran back from midwicket, dived full length and completed the catch perfectly. The best part of the catch was his eye level, which never wavered despite the difficulty in turning back and finding the ball in the right trajectory.
The full toss
Thisara Perera had almost lost the match for Sri Lanka when Anamul Haque went after him with 11 needed off the last three balls. He bowled a full toss, when Bangladesh needed three off the last ball, which should have been deposited in the stands, but it was top-edged, and went up to be taken easily. Sri Lanka got another scare when the umpires checked for no ball, which it was not going to be since Perera bowled it from inside the crease, and it was not too high either as it was the perfect length to hammer out of the ground.
Thisara Perera had almost lost the match for Sri Lanka when Anamul Haque went after him with 11 needed off the last three balls. He bowled a full toss, when Bangladesh needed three off the last ball, which should have been deposited in the stands, but it was top-edged, and went up to be taken easily. Sri Lanka got another scare when the umpires checked for no ball, which it was not going to be since Perera bowled it from inside the crease, and it was not too high either as it was the perfect length to hammer out of the ground.
Mohammad Isam is ESPNcricinfo's Bangladesh correspondent. He tweets here