Watch out, Spider Cam

Shaun Pollock has become one of the better player-turned-commentators and he was a good choice for a dug-out interview during the Sydney Sixers innings. He spoke prudently about the reasons Mumbai Indians did not play well enough to contend for a semi-final spot. When one of his answers was met with total silence by the team, Pollock thought he knew what had happened. "Have you gone to an ad break?" he asked on-air. Nervous giggles met his astute observation before the chat continued.

There were some overthrows given away in the first game, something Yorkshire coach Jason Gillespie said he did not mind too much, but the most comical extra runs came in this encounter. Dwayne Smith drove the ball to mid-off and Nathan McCullum's pick up was good but his throw a little over eager. The ball evaded Brad Haddin behind the stumps and the fielder at fine leg and cost Sydney four.

Sachin Tendulkar has not had the best tournament but is still one of its star attractions. After managing just a single off the first six balls he faced, Tendulkar provided a teaser to his better days with an open faced drive over point. The ball was in the air for a while and crashed into the advertising boards to the delight of the Kingsmead crowd.

One cannot help but wonder whether when Sachin Tendulkar was bowled by Moises Henriques that would be the last time a South African audience would have seen him bat. It was an unflattering end to his innings, as he played down the wrong line to a short of a length ball that held its line from middle and off and beat the open face. Henriques was delighted and a dejected Tendulkar may have said goodbye.

Viewers of the tournament must have wondered what would happen if someone hit the Spider Cam. Today, we found out. Dinesh Kartik hit a Henriques' delivery towards midwicket. It was hit too high, it smashed into the camera, causing it to cut to black, as replays showed later. As per the rules, a dead ball was called and Henriques had to bowl the ball again.

For once, not to a player. Two balls after his camera's antics, Kartik ran into umpire S Ravi while trying to make his second run. Kartik's shoulder rammed into Ravi but it was the batsman who rolled on the floor in pain while the umpire barely looked ruffled.

It may have been too late at night for the Australian selectors to be watching, but if there were, they may mark a tick in Brad Haddin's column as far as options for the national team goes. A bouncer from Pat Cummins feathered Lasith Malinga's glove and seemed headed to fine leg. Haddin dived full length to his left and grabbed the ball one-handed as he fell. He moved his arm swiftly to his chest to avoid the ball bobbling out and completed a stunner.