Is that AB, or Gomez?
Plays of the day from the IPL game between Pune Warriors and Delhi Daredevils in Pune
Siddhartha Talya
19-May-2013
File photo: Virender Sehwag took an excellent catch at square leg to remove Aaron Finch • BCCI
The catch
Virender Sehwag isn't the swiftest on the field, but has pulled off some really good catches in his career. The one that immediately comes to mind is catching Simon Katich at fine leg in Adelaide in 2004. Today, he was made to dive again and he did it well, stretching full length as he ran to snap one from Aaron Finch and plucked it inches from the ground at square leg.
Virender Sehwag isn't the swiftest on the field, but has pulled off some really good catches in his career. The one that immediately comes to mind is catching Simon Katich at fine leg in Adelaide in 2004. Today, he was made to dive again and he did it well, stretching full length as he ran to snap one from Aaron Finch and plucked it inches from the ground at square leg.
The innovation
It seems Raiphi Gomez has been taking lessons from AB de Villiers. Facing his first ball today, which incidentally was the last of the Pune Warriors innings, he reverse-paddled Siddarth Kaul to the third-man boundary, switching at the last moment to place the ball past the keeper. Everyone was caught unawares, chiefly the bowler who had a look of disbelief.
It seems Raiphi Gomez has been taking lessons from AB de Villiers. Facing his first ball today, which incidentally was the last of the Pune Warriors innings, he reverse-paddled Siddarth Kaul to the third-man boundary, switching at the last moment to place the ball past the keeper. Everyone was caught unawares, chiefly the bowler who had a look of disbelief.
The drop
David Warner has had a poor IPL by his standards, and he was tentative at the start of his innings today as well. In the second over of the chase, Bhuvneshwar Kumar bowled a tempting delivery outside off that Warner edged as he tried to drive, only to be given a reprieve by Finch at slip. It was an excellent effort, though, as he dived full length to his right and almost caught hold of it with his right hand but it slipped through his fingers.
David Warner has had a poor IPL by his standards, and he was tentative at the start of his innings today as well. In the second over of the chase, Bhuvneshwar Kumar bowled a tempting delivery outside off that Warner edged as he tried to drive, only to be given a reprieve by Finch at slip. It was an excellent effort, though, as he dived full length to his right and almost caught hold of it with his right hand but it slipped through his fingers.
The downfall
Mahela Jayawardene was well set and appeared to be anchoring Daredevils' chase until he faced Ali Murtaza. First, he yorked himself to a full delivery from Murtuza and was fortunate not to be stumped as Robin Uthappa failed to collect. However, next ball, he chased a really wide delivery and sliced the easiest of catches to point, when he could have earned a wide had he let it be.
Mahela Jayawardene was well set and appeared to be anchoring Daredevils' chase until he faced Ali Murtaza. First, he yorked himself to a full delivery from Murtuza and was fortunate not to be stumped as Robin Uthappa failed to collect. However, next ball, he chased a really wide delivery and sliced the easiest of catches to point, when he could have earned a wide had he let it be.
The blow
Remember that game between India and Namibia in the 2003 World Cup, when Sachin Tendulkar smashed one back past the bowler, just to miss umpire Aleem Dar who was in the firing line? Umesh Yadav, however, thrashed one straight back at Simon Taufel today, in the final over of the game. It caught Taufel smack on the shoulder, but the umpire didn't show any pain. He smiled at Umesh, who smiled back and held up his hand; tempers didn't flare, though it has happened this tournament when batsmen have been at the receiving end of a wrong decision.
Remember that game between India and Namibia in the 2003 World Cup, when Sachin Tendulkar smashed one back past the bowler, just to miss umpire Aleem Dar who was in the firing line? Umesh Yadav, however, thrashed one straight back at Simon Taufel today, in the final over of the game. It caught Taufel smack on the shoulder, but the umpire didn't show any pain. He smiled at Umesh, who smiled back and held up his hand; tempers didn't flare, though it has happened this tournament when batsmen have been at the receiving end of a wrong decision.
Siddhartha Talya is a senior sub-editor at ESPNcricinfo