Roach rocks the Netherlands boat
Plays of the Day from the Group B match between Netherlands and West Indies at the Feroz Shah Kotla
Firdose Moonda in Delhi
28-Feb-2011
Kemar Roach brought a swift end to the Netherlands resistance • AFP
The perilous starts
The first delivery of the match was just about the only one that troubled the West Indian batsmen. Mudassar Bukhari, who is neither quick nor threatening, got some slight away movement and Devon Smith was surprised and got half an edge, half a guide between first and second slip. The fielders tumbled over it and each other and the innings was opened with a four. There were no problems with the second ball, which was driven through mid-off, almost with a thud.
The first delivery of the match was just about the only one that troubled the West Indian batsmen. Mudassar Bukhari, who is neither quick nor threatening, got some slight away movement and Devon Smith was surprised and got half an edge, half a guide between first and second slip. The fielders tumbled over it and each other and the innings was opened with a four. There were no problems with the second ball, which was driven through mid-off, almost with a thud.
The sleeping giant awakens
Chris Gayle had been batting with disdain for the better part of the first ten overs. He swatted at some balls with disinterest, pushed lightly at others with disparagement and shown a general apathy to being at the crease. Just when he looked ready to pack it all up and leave, he came to life. Holland's golden boy Ryan ten Doeschate had come on to bowl and Gayle hammered three of the first four balls he faced from him to the boundary.
Chris Gayle had been batting with disdain for the better part of the first ten overs. He swatted at some balls with disinterest, pushed lightly at others with disparagement and shown a general apathy to being at the crease. Just when he looked ready to pack it all up and leave, he came to life. Holland's golden boy Ryan ten Doeschate had come on to bowl and Gayle hammered three of the first four balls he faced from him to the boundary.
The dropped catches
Ramnaresh Sarwan was given two lives. On 13, he drove lazily in the air to the Alexei Kervezee on the sweeper boundary. Kervezee was right behind it and tried to catch with it with his fingers up, but instead of curling them around the ball, he used them like fly swats and spilled it. Six overs later Bukhari, who was the bowler when Sarwan was dropped the first time, should have caught him this time. Sarwan skied it high above the wicketkeeper and Wesley Baressi, and the fielders at third man and fine leg, swooped on the chance. Bukhari called, Baressi stepped back, and instead of the ball being safely caught it ended up like an egg, splattered all over the floor. Bukhari was the culprit, spilling it as he went down on his knees.
Ramnaresh Sarwan was given two lives. On 13, he drove lazily in the air to the Alexei Kervezee on the sweeper boundary. Kervezee was right behind it and tried to catch with it with his fingers up, but instead of curling them around the ball, he used them like fly swats and spilled it. Six overs later Bukhari, who was the bowler when Sarwan was dropped the first time, should have caught him this time. Sarwan skied it high above the wicketkeeper and Wesley Baressi, and the fielders at third man and fine leg, swooped on the chance. Bukhari called, Baressi stepped back, and instead of the ball being safely caught it ended up like an egg, splattered all over the floor. Bukhari was the culprit, spilling it as he went down on his knees.
The Bajan inspiration
Two of the 15 West Indies players are from Barbados and they seem to enjoy celebrating to the music from a lady from their island. Each time Kemar Roach or Sulieman Benn took a wicket, nine times in total, Rihanna's "Rude Boy" would blast from the stadium speakers. The song wasn't played during the match against South Africa and it also didn't get any airtime when the only other bowler among the wickets, Darren Sammy, claimed his scalp. Bajan beats for Bajan "rude" boys only.
Two of the 15 West Indies players are from Barbados and they seem to enjoy celebrating to the music from a lady from their island. Each time Kemar Roach or Sulieman Benn took a wicket, nine times in total, Rihanna's "Rude Boy" would blast from the stadium speakers. The song wasn't played during the match against South Africa and it also didn't get any airtime when the only other bowler among the wickets, Darren Sammy, claimed his scalp. Bajan beats for Bajan "rude" boys only.
The hat-trick
It was going only one way for Netherlands but they were determined to hold on by their fingernails until the end. Kemar Roach put them out of their misery and chopped the whole hand off with the first hat-trick of this World Cup. His first victim was Pieter Seelaar, who was struck flush on the pad, beaten by the pace that Roach had used all evening. Then, it was Bernard Loots' turn. He couldn't get away from the ball that nipped in and was hit just in front of off stump. The third one didn't hit the pad as Roach finished off the way any bowler would want to - by flattening middle stump with another incutter. It was the sixth hat-trick in World Cup history.
It was going only one way for Netherlands but they were determined to hold on by their fingernails until the end. Kemar Roach put them out of their misery and chopped the whole hand off with the first hat-trick of this World Cup. His first victim was Pieter Seelaar, who was struck flush on the pad, beaten by the pace that Roach had used all evening. Then, it was Bernard Loots' turn. He couldn't get away from the ball that nipped in and was hit just in front of off stump. The third one didn't hit the pad as Roach finished off the way any bowler would want to - by flattening middle stump with another incutter. It was the sixth hat-trick in World Cup history.
Firdose Moonda is ESPNcricinfo's South Africa correspondent