Henriques in need of a new jersey
Plays of the day from the IPL match between Kolkata Knight Riders and Royal Challengers Bangalore
Firdose Moonda
12-May-2013
Knight Riders' hunting pair, L Balaji and Sachithra Senanayake • BCCI
The partnership
Like batsmen, bowlers operate in pairs too, and Sachitra Senanayake and L Balaji were another example of that. They only gave away 15 runs off the first 26 balls they bowled together before they were rewarded. Cheteshwar Pujara, looking to break the shackles, tried to go aerial against the Sri Lankan offpsinner but got the toe of his bat and lofted the ball to cover. Fittingly, Balaji was there to take the catch and give Senanayake a wicket that both of them deserved.
Like batsmen, bowlers operate in pairs too, and Sachitra Senanayake and L Balaji were another example of that. They only gave away 15 runs off the first 26 balls they bowled together before they were rewarded. Cheteshwar Pujara, looking to break the shackles, tried to go aerial against the Sri Lankan offpsinner but got the toe of his bat and lofted the ball to cover. Fittingly, Balaji was there to take the catch and give Senanayake a wicket that both of them deserved.
The crowd
It was supposed to be a home game for Knight Riders. After all, Ranchi is the capital of Jharkhand, a state that neighbours West Bengal, where Kolkata's IPL team is based. But the fans didn't seem to care. Regular chants of "R-C-B" were heard even when the stadium announcer was prompting the crowd to shout "K-K-R" instead. But, with Royal Challengers 108 for 8 in the penultimate over, the tide began to turn and Knight Riders were cheered in their new home.
It was supposed to be a home game for Knight Riders. After all, Ranchi is the capital of Jharkhand, a state that neighbours West Bengal, where Kolkata's IPL team is based. But the fans didn't seem to care. Regular chants of "R-C-B" were heard even when the stadium announcer was prompting the crowd to shout "K-K-R" instead. But, with Royal Challengers 108 for 8 in the penultimate over, the tide began to turn and Knight Riders were cheered in their new home.
The aborted sweep
AB de Villiers is one of the most innovative batsmen in the IPL but even his creativity could not pay off on a slow surface. He reverse swept Senanayake in an attempt to get runs the unconventional way, but had to reach uncomfortably for a full and wide ball and only got a thick top edge. The ball went over the keeper's head, though, but it stopped just outside the circle to leave de Villiers with only two for his troubles.
AB de Villiers is one of the most innovative batsmen in the IPL but even his creativity could not pay off on a slow surface. He reverse swept Senanayake in an attempt to get runs the unconventional way, but had to reach uncomfortably for a full and wide ball and only got a thick top edge. The ball went over the keeper's head, though, but it stopped just outside the circle to leave de Villiers with only two for his troubles.
The garment
We know IPL players make enough money to afford new clothes, so there has to be some explanation for Moises Henriques' torn shirt. A gaping hole under his arms was thought to be caused by "too much weight training", according to a reader on this website. Whatever the reason, Royal Challengers will have to toss that one and get him another.
We know IPL players make enough money to afford new clothes, so there has to be some explanation for Moises Henriques' torn shirt. A gaping hole under his arms was thought to be caused by "too much weight training", according to a reader on this website. Whatever the reason, Royal Challengers will have to toss that one and get him another.
The misjudging
Ravi Rampaul could have removed Jacques Kallis - the man Alan Wilkins called "Table Mountain, Signal Hill and Lions' Head altogether" - when he got the batsman to top-edge an attempted pull. Abhimanyu Mithun at fine leg ran too far infield to take the catch and had to watch the ball go over his head to the boundary for four.
Ravi Rampaul could have removed Jacques Kallis - the man Alan Wilkins called "Table Mountain, Signal Hill and Lions' Head altogether" - when he got the batsman to top-edge an attempted pull. Abhimanyu Mithun at fine leg ran too far infield to take the catch and had to watch the ball go over his head to the boundary for four.
The chat
Murali Kartik warned Manoj Tiwary and Jacques Kallis not to back up too far at the non-strikers' end because they could be mankaded, but the Knight Riders' batsmen tested him. Delivery after delivery, they inched forward a little more until Kartik's patience ran out. He engaged in a second, then a third and fourth discussion until the end of his over, when the umpire had to get involved to break up what looked to be swiftly turning into an argument.
Murali Kartik warned Manoj Tiwary and Jacques Kallis not to back up too far at the non-strikers' end because they could be mankaded, but the Knight Riders' batsmen tested him. Delivery after delivery, they inched forward a little more until Kartik's patience ran out. He engaged in a second, then a third and fourth discussion until the end of his over, when the umpire had to get involved to break up what looked to be swiftly turning into an argument.
Firdose Moonda is ESPNcricinfo's South Africa correspondent