Laughlin flies at point
Plays of the day from the Group B match between Hobart Hurricanes and Northern Knights
Rachna Shetty
23-Sep-2014
Ben Laughlin held on to a stunning catch at point • BCCI
The screamer
Hurricanes needed a special effort in the field to thwart a confident Knights batting line-up and Ben Laughlin came up with exactly that at point to get rid of Anton Devcich. The batsman wanted to hit down the ground but the ball from Joe Mennie took the outside edge and lobbed towards backward point. Laughlin dived high and to his right to help Mennie complete the first wicket-maiden in this CLT20. The wicket would also have brought relief to Doug Bollinger, who had dropped the batsman at mid-on three balls earlier.
Hurricanes needed a special effort in the field to thwart a confident Knights batting line-up and Ben Laughlin came up with exactly that at point to get rid of Anton Devcich. The batsman wanted to hit down the ground but the ball from Joe Mennie took the outside edge and lobbed towards backward point. Laughlin dived high and to his right to help Mennie complete the first wicket-maiden in this CLT20. The wicket would also have brought relief to Doug Bollinger, who had dropped the batsman at mid-on three balls earlier.
The stroke of luck
It was one of those days when most things Hurricanes tried appeared to work, including a rather fortuitous delivery that got rid of BJ Watling. With dew a constant issue in Raipur, Ben Hilfenhaus appeared to lose his grip on the ball and sent a full toss Watling's way. The Knights batsman, however, missed it completely and was hit on the back thigh. The ball had swung and straightened enough for the umpire to rule an lbw and a few Hurricanes fielders had surprised grins when they ran into celebrate.
It was one of those days when most things Hurricanes tried appeared to work, including a rather fortuitous delivery that got rid of BJ Watling. With dew a constant issue in Raipur, Ben Hilfenhaus appeared to lose his grip on the ball and sent a full toss Watling's way. The Knights batsman, however, missed it completely and was hit on the back thigh. The ball had swung and straightened enough for the umpire to rule an lbw and a few Hurricanes fielders had surprised grins when they ran into celebrate.
The committed fielder
Playing his first game in nearly six months, Jono Boult was in action in the second over. A thick edge off Ben Dunk came swiftly to Boult near third man and he dived to push the ball away. It was in danger of rolling over the rope for a four but Boult, quick on his feet, got up and flicked it back in time.
Playing his first game in nearly six months, Jono Boult was in action in the second over. A thick edge off Ben Dunk came swiftly to Boult near third man and he dived to push the ball away. It was in danger of rolling over the rope for a four but Boult, quick on his feet, got up and flicked it back in time.
The accidental six
The skill of fielding on the boundary is undergoing a fascinating evolution in T20 cricket with dives, relay catches and some help from folks like Brendon McCullum. Against Knights, Joe Mennie almost pulled off a good catch that could have got rid of Scott Styris. The batsman had hit a slower ball from Doug Bollinger high towards long-on and Mennie, like all good fielders, kept his eyes on the ball and took it. His momentum, however, was taking him backwards and the tactic of tossing the ball back over the rope did not quite work as he stepped on the boundary.
The skill of fielding on the boundary is undergoing a fascinating evolution in T20 cricket with dives, relay catches and some help from folks like Brendon McCullum. Against Knights, Joe Mennie almost pulled off a good catch that could have got rid of Scott Styris. The batsman had hit a slower ball from Doug Bollinger high towards long-on and Mennie, like all good fielders, kept his eyes on the ball and took it. His momentum, however, was taking him backwards and the tactic of tossing the ball back over the rope did not quite work as he stepped on the boundary.
Rachna Shetty is a senior sub-editor at ESPNcricinfo