Laidback Lendl and a Malinga special
ESPNcricinfo presents the Plays of the Day from the match between Mumbai Indians and Trinidad & Tobago in Bangalore
Ravi Rampaul's dive came up short • Associated Press
Laidback Lendl
Trinidad & Tobago's first wicket had fallen since Barath couldn't get his bat down in time, a Malinga yorker proving too good for him. T&T's second wicket also fell because the batsman didn't get his bat down in time, but this time the dismissal was due to a schoolboy error from the batsman. Lendl Simmons tucked the ball towards deep backward square leg and had plenty of time to take two. He ambled the end of the second run, thinking he was in no danger, and failed to drag his bat. The throw came in and the wicketkeeper whipped off the bails. The replay on the giant screen showed Simmons' foot was on the crease - the crowd erupted, Mumbai celebrated and Simmons started to trudge off. He stopped midway to the dug-out though as the third umpire watched endless replays to be absolutely sure. The crowd heard the 'heartbeat' sound, which plays as the TV umpire ponders his decision, for several minutes before Simmons was ruled out.
Trinidad & Tobago's first wicket had fallen since Barath couldn't get his bat down in time, a Malinga yorker proving too good for him. T&T's second wicket also fell because the batsman didn't get his bat down in time, but this time the dismissal was due to a schoolboy error from the batsman. Lendl Simmons tucked the ball towards deep backward square leg and had plenty of time to take two. He ambled the end of the second run, thinking he was in no danger, and failed to drag his bat. The throw came in and the wicketkeeper whipped off the bails. The replay on the giant screen showed Simmons' foot was on the crease - the crowd erupted, Mumbai celebrated and Simmons started to trudge off. He stopped midway to the dug-out though as the third umpire watched endless replays to be absolutely sure. The crowd heard the 'heartbeat' sound, which plays as the TV umpire ponders his decision, for several minutes before Simmons was ruled out.
The Malinga special
With the home team not playing today, the biggest draws for those who turned up at the Chinnaswamy were the superstars of Twenty20, Lasith Malinga and Kieron Pollard. Malinga didn't disappoint, giving the crowd what they wanted see as early as the third over. He fired in a full ball that sneaked under Adrian Barath's bat to dramatically flatten off stump. Few bowlers in world cricket uproot stumps with such frequency.
With the home team not playing today, the biggest draws for those who turned up at the Chinnaswamy were the superstars of Twenty20, Lasith Malinga and Kieron Pollard. Malinga didn't disappoint, giving the crowd what they wanted see as early as the third over. He fired in a full ball that sneaked under Adrian Barath's bat to dramatically flatten off stump. Few bowlers in world cricket uproot stumps with such frequency.
Yes-no-sorry
T&T were already in deep trouble when Ravi Rampaul came out to bat. He punched his first ball to mid-on and set off for a single. The non-striker Jason Mohammed took a couple of paces before deciding against the single, while Rampaul continued to run. Belatedly, he scrambled back but the fielder Aiden Blizzard had the time to wait a couple of moments for the wicketkeeper to come up to the stumps before sliding the ball in for Rayudu to break the stumps. Rampaul had dived in a frantic bid to make his ground. He knew he was short and lay prone on the ground long after as the Mumbai fielders had converged in celebration.
T&T were already in deep trouble when Ravi Rampaul came out to bat. He punched his first ball to mid-on and set off for a single. The non-striker Jason Mohammed took a couple of paces before deciding against the single, while Rampaul continued to run. Belatedly, he scrambled back but the fielder Aiden Blizzard had the time to wait a couple of moments for the wicketkeeper to come up to the stumps before sliding the ball in for Rayudu to break the stumps. Rampaul had dived in a frantic bid to make his ground. He knew he was short and lay prone on the ground long after as the Mumbai fielders had converged in celebration.
Rare Twenty20 sighting
Given the regularity with which batsmen attempt the big hits in Twenty20s, the fields are usually spread out after the Powerplay overs with the four mandatory close fielders staying hugging the 30-yard circle. That wasn't the case during Mumbai's chase though, particularly when offspinner Sunil Narine was bowling. In the 11th over, there were as many as three close-in fielders: a slip, a silly point and a leg slip. A great sight for fans of attacking bowling.
Given the regularity with which batsmen attempt the big hits in Twenty20s, the fields are usually spread out after the Powerplay overs with the four mandatory close fielders staying hugging the 30-yard circle. That wasn't the case during Mumbai's chase though, particularly when offspinner Sunil Narine was bowling. In the 11th over, there were as many as three close-in fielders: a slip, a silly point and a leg slip. A great sight for fans of attacking bowling.
Barely surviving a hat-trick
Much of the build-up to this match was about Kieron Pollard coming up against his home team. He had had disappointingly little to do on the field, so there was a buzz when he came out to bat, with Ravi Rampaul on a hat-trick having already accounted for James Franklin and Andrew Symonds. Rampaul very nearly completed the feat as well, but the uppish shot from Pollard landed short of Darren Bravo. T&T could have at least had the satisfaction of dismissing their former team-mate for a golden duck, but squandered that as well as a Bravo misfield allowed Pollard time to hare back to the crease after an unresponsive non-striker left Pollard midway down the pitch. At slip, Samuel Badree kicked the turf in disgust, indicating just how badly T&T wanted that wicket.
Much of the build-up to this match was about Kieron Pollard coming up against his home team. He had had disappointingly little to do on the field, so there was a buzz when he came out to bat, with Ravi Rampaul on a hat-trick having already accounted for James Franklin and Andrew Symonds. Rampaul very nearly completed the feat as well, but the uppish shot from Pollard landed short of Darren Bravo. T&T could have at least had the satisfaction of dismissing their former team-mate for a golden duck, but squandered that as well as a Bravo misfield allowed Pollard time to hare back to the crease after an unresponsive non-striker left Pollard midway down the pitch. At slip, Samuel Badree kicked the turf in disgust, indicating just how badly T&T wanted that wicket.
Siddarth Ravindran is a sub-editor at ESPNcricinfo