An early departure and an umpire caught napping
ESPNcricinfo presents the Plays of the Day from the World Cup, Group B match between India and West Indies in Chennai
Sharda Ugra at the MA Chidambaram Stadium
20-Mar-2011
Darren Sammy had two chances to catch Yuvraj Singh early in his innings, but missed them both • Getty Images
The departure of the day
He was welcomed; it was awaited and it took all of four minutes to snuff it all out. Sachin Tendulkar's nick off a Ravi Rampaul beauty was met with a shake off the head by umpire Steve Davis and the ultimate compliment from the batsman, who turned on his heel and walked off to deafening silence. Okay, it's not the World Cup semi-final but remember, the UDRS is minus the snickometer; and this on a day when Ricky Ponting admitted he doesn't walk.
He was welcomed; it was awaited and it took all of four minutes to snuff it all out. Sachin Tendulkar's nick off a Ravi Rampaul beauty was met with a shake off the head by umpire Steve Davis and the ultimate compliment from the batsman, who turned on his heel and walked off to deafening silence. Okay, it's not the World Cup semi-final but remember, the UDRS is minus the snickometer; and this on a day when Ricky Ponting admitted he doesn't walk.
Clumsy captain of the day
As if dropping Yuvraj Singh once is not enough, Darren Sammy did it twice within seven balls. If a salmon-like leap at point was not enough to give Andre Russell a wicket with Yuvraj on 9, Sammy had another chance off his own bowling, in his very first over, as a leading edge shot past him. Yuvraj was on 13, and despite cramps and dehydration, he wouldn't leave for another 100 runs.
As if dropping Yuvraj Singh once is not enough, Darren Sammy did it twice within seven balls. If a salmon-like leap at point was not enough to give Andre Russell a wicket with Yuvraj on 9, Sammy had another chance off his own bowling, in his very first over, as a leading edge shot past him. Yuvraj was on 13, and despite cramps and dehydration, he wouldn't leave for another 100 runs.
The non-review
In the fourth over of the West Indian innings, there was a rare World Cup occurrence: a direct hit from an India fielder. That should have caught umpire Simon Taufel's attention. Yet no amount of muted appealing by the fielder Virat Kohli, or his colleagues Zaheer Khan and Munaf Patel led Taufel to ask for upstairs assistance. Turns out Kirk Edwards, who had scored seven at the time, had actually been caught short. He was out three overs later, but in a tournament where reviews have been aplenty, surely Taufel couldn't have thought going to the third umpire for a close run-out decision would be a waste of time.
In the fourth over of the West Indian innings, there was a rare World Cup occurrence: a direct hit from an India fielder. That should have caught umpire Simon Taufel's attention. Yet no amount of muted appealing by the fielder Virat Kohli, or his colleagues Zaheer Khan and Munaf Patel led Taufel to ask for upstairs assistance. Turns out Kirk Edwards, who had scored seven at the time, had actually been caught short. He was out three overs later, but in a tournament where reviews have been aplenty, surely Taufel couldn't have thought going to the third umpire for a close run-out decision would be a waste of time.
The debut
The first time India opened the bowling with a spinner, in this World Cup, R Ashwin's parsimonious first-over was greeted with applause, cheers and approving whistles. In his fourth over, there came the wicket. Was that the sound of the door slowly creaking shut against Piyush Chawla?
The first time India opened the bowling with a spinner, in this World Cup, R Ashwin's parsimonious first-over was greeted with applause, cheers and approving whistles. In his fourth over, there came the wicket. Was that the sound of the door slowly creaking shut against Piyush Chawla?
The choke
It began with a maiden; the 28th over of the West Indian innings put the brakes on a chase that was rolling along smoothly, as opener Devon Smith and Ramnaresh Sarwan built a partnership. Harbhajan Singh bowled a maiden to Sarwan, and the unravelling began. Over the course of the next ten overs, West Indies scored 22 runs and lost five wickets.
It began with a maiden; the 28th over of the West Indian innings put the brakes on a chase that was rolling along smoothly, as opener Devon Smith and Ramnaresh Sarwan built a partnership. Harbhajan Singh bowled a maiden to Sarwan, and the unravelling began. Over the course of the next ten overs, West Indies scored 22 runs and lost five wickets.
Tipping point of the day
At 154 for 2, West Indies were going at a bossa nova tempo, with opener Devon Smith holding together three partnerships that took the men in maroon to a position from where they needed 115 off just under 20 overs. Then Zaheer Khan returned for his second spell, in reverse gear, and stopped Smith's composed innings short. Pollard fell in the next over and the West Indian sand-castle began crumbling.
At 154 for 2, West Indies were going at a bossa nova tempo, with opener Devon Smith holding together three partnerships that took the men in maroon to a position from where they needed 115 off just under 20 overs. Then Zaheer Khan returned for his second spell, in reverse gear, and stopped Smith's composed innings short. Pollard fell in the next over and the West Indian sand-castle began crumbling.
Sharda Ugra is senior editor at ESPNcricinfo