McCullum's salmon leap
Plays of the day from the fourth ODI between New Zealand and Sri Lanka in Nelson
Andrew Fidel Fernando
20-Jan-2015
Martin Guptill: All about the timing • Getty Images
The exchange
Umpire Ian Gould was unflustered during a heated run-in with several Sri Lanka players in the Hamilton match, and his deadpan was in fine form in Nelson as well, when Kumar Sangakkara made a remark early in the match. Sangakkara was displeased that a bouncer from Mitchell McClenaghan was not called a wide, despite it seemingly having passed well over Tillakaratne Dilshan's head, and told Gould that the square-leg umpire had signaled the ball should be a wide. "Did he?" was Gould's reaction, as he went about his normal business. When Sangakkara replied with "yes," Gould's response of "Shit!" was dripping sarcasm. Not once during the exchange did the umpire make eye-contact with the batsman. Not once did he seem remotely interested in changing his decision.
Umpire Ian Gould was unflustered during a heated run-in with several Sri Lanka players in the Hamilton match, and his deadpan was in fine form in Nelson as well, when Kumar Sangakkara made a remark early in the match. Sangakkara was displeased that a bouncer from Mitchell McClenaghan was not called a wide, despite it seemingly having passed well over Tillakaratne Dilshan's head, and told Gould that the square-leg umpire had signaled the ball should be a wide. "Did he?" was Gould's reaction, as he went about his normal business. When Sangakkara replied with "yes," Gould's response of "Shit!" was dripping sarcasm. Not once during the exchange did the umpire make eye-contact with the batsman. Not once did he seem remotely interested in changing his decision.
The salmon leap
Brendon McCullum had already taken a diving catch to dismiss Thisara Perera, but he outdid himself for agility in the final over when he sought to take a catch off Nuwan Kulasekara. The batsman had drilled the ball high to McCullum's right, at mid-off, but he was immediately in the air, both heels kicked up, and reaching out horizontally to clasp the ball in two hands. He wasn't able to hold on, as he fell back to earth, but had quickly got a throw away to the bowler, who still managed to run Kulasekara out.
Brendon McCullum had already taken a diving catch to dismiss Thisara Perera, but he outdid himself for agility in the final over when he sought to take a catch off Nuwan Kulasekara. The batsman had drilled the ball high to McCullum's right, at mid-off, but he was immediately in the air, both heels kicked up, and reaching out horizontally to clasp the ball in two hands. He wasn't able to hold on, as he fell back to earth, but had quickly got a throw away to the bowler, who still managed to run Kulasekara out.
The shave
Pod shaving is said to be a dying art among batmakers in the world, but Rangana Herath did his bit to keep tradition alive when he made Kane Williamson's bat lighter by a few milligrams using his boot. Grant Elliott pushed one slightly towards mid on in the 32nd over, and in his haste to cut the ball off, Herath stood on the face of Williamson's blade, as the non-striker grounded it behind the crease. Herath apologised and went to inspect the bat soon after, to find his spikes had carved two lines into it.
Pod shaving is said to be a dying art among batmakers in the world, but Rangana Herath did his bit to keep tradition alive when he made Kane Williamson's bat lighter by a few milligrams using his boot. Grant Elliott pushed one slightly towards mid on in the 32nd over, and in his haste to cut the ball off, Herath stood on the face of Williamson's blade, as the non-striker grounded it behind the crease. Herath apologised and went to inspect the bat soon after, to find his spikes had carved two lines into it.
The stroke
Mahela Jayawardene played several gorgeous strokes during his 94, but the best piece of timing came perhaps from Martin Guptill's blade in the sixth over of New Zealand's innings. Angelo Mathews had bowled tightly during his new ball spell, but the moment he pitched it fractionally too full, Guptill took a long stride down the pitch, and with masterful control, lifted the ball high over the long-off rope for six.
Mahela Jayawardene played several gorgeous strokes during his 94, but the best piece of timing came perhaps from Martin Guptill's blade in the sixth over of New Zealand's innings. Angelo Mathews had bowled tightly during his new ball spell, but the moment he pitched it fractionally too full, Guptill took a long stride down the pitch, and with masterful control, lifted the ball high over the long-off rope for six.
Andrew Fidel Fernando is ESPNcricinfo's Sri Lanka correspondent. @andrewffernando