Sammy's stunner
The Plays of the day from the match between Rajasthan Royals and Sunrisers Hyderabad in Delhi
Abhishek Purohit
22-May-2013
File photo: There was more of Darren Sammy's trademark celebration after he took a terrific catch at the boundary • BCCI
The catch
This was a game-changer and an unbelievable take on top of that. Shane Watson had started powering them into the boundary when he decided to go over it. After hitting the legspinner Karan Sharma for a pull to the deep midwicket rope, Watson pulled harder and in the air this time. It would have cleared Darren Sammy by several feet but the fielder jumped high as if on a spring and took it over his head.
This was a game-changer and an unbelievable take on top of that. Shane Watson had started powering them into the boundary when he decided to go over it. After hitting the legspinner Karan Sharma for a pull to the deep midwicket rope, Watson pulled harder and in the air this time. It would have cleared Darren Sammy by several feet but the fielder jumped high as if on a spring and took it over his head.
The shot-I
This was a pitch on which almost all batsmen struggled to time it, but Biplab Samantray just killed this one in the 19th over of Sunrisers' innings. Kevon Cooper bowled it slow as well, but Samantray stepped forward and went through with a checked lofted drive. It landed a couple of inches inside the long-off boundary.
This was a pitch on which almost all batsmen struggled to time it, but Biplab Samantray just killed this one in the 19th over of Sunrisers' innings. Kevon Cooper bowled it slow as well, but Samantray stepped forward and went through with a checked lofted drive. It landed a couple of inches inside the long-off boundary.
The shot(s)-II
Three overs of legspin from Amit Mishra had gone for eight. Royals were five down. Another legspinner Karan Sharma was on. Brad Hodge swung the third ball from outside off over long-on. The fifth was angled in; he swung it over deep square leg. Game-changer again.
Three overs of legspin from Amit Mishra had gone for eight. Royals were five down. Another legspinner Karan Sharma was on. Brad Hodge swung the third ball from outside off over long-on. The fifth was angled in; he swung it over deep square leg. Game-changer again.
The kiss
During his opening over, James Faulkner had a go at that moustache twirler Shikhar Dhawan. Dhawan's response was to walk down the pitch and smilingly blow a kiss towards the fast bowler. The two kept on with the chatter, and Shane Watson had to intervene at one stage. He had a long talk with Dhawan, to no avail. Rahul Dravid had to step in to calm matters in the end.
During his opening over, James Faulkner had a go at that moustache twirler Shikhar Dhawan. Dhawan's response was to walk down the pitch and smilingly blow a kiss towards the fast bowler. The two kept on with the chatter, and Shane Watson had to intervene at one stage. He had a long talk with Dhawan, to no avail. Rahul Dravid had to step in to calm matters in the end.
The start
Vikramjeet Malik moves it around all day in the Ranji Trophy for Himachal Pradesh in Nadaun and Dharamsala but he'd played just one game this IPL season before being drafted in for a knockout match. To open the bowling. And what a start it was for Malik. There was no swing, but he was wise enough to provide neither pace nor width. A wicket with the last ball of his first over, and another with the third ball of his second. Job done.
Vikramjeet Malik moves it around all day in the Ranji Trophy for Himachal Pradesh in Nadaun and Dharamsala but he'd played just one game this IPL season before being drafted in for a knockout match. To open the bowling. And what a start it was for Malik. There was no swing, but he was wise enough to provide neither pace nor width. A wicket with the last ball of his first over, and another with the third ball of his second. Job done.
The celebration
Sammy had made the baby-rocking celebration, dummy in mouth, famous this season, following the birth of his daughter. Brad Hodge had no dummy at hand, but after carting Sammy over long-on for the match-winning six, he took off his helmet, put his bat down, got down on his knees and rocked his arms. "I have got children too," he dead-panned at the presentation.
Sammy had made the baby-rocking celebration, dummy in mouth, famous this season, following the birth of his daughter. Brad Hodge had no dummy at hand, but after carting Sammy over long-on for the match-winning six, he took off his helmet, put his bat down, got down on his knees and rocked his arms. "I have got children too," he dead-panned at the presentation.
Abhishek Purohit is a sub-editor at ESPNcricinfo