Camera tricks, and Dilshan breaks a trend
Plays of the Day from the fourth tri-series match between Sri Lanka and New Zealand in Dambulla
Siddarth Ravindran in Dambulla
20-Aug-2010
Tillakaratne Dilshan blazes away • Cameraworx/Live Images
First-ball jitters
Upul Tharanga had been cleaned up on the first delivery of the match against India by a beauty from Praveen Kumar which nipped away to take offstump. Tharanga would have collected an unwanted second golden duck in a row when he nearly nicked Kyle Mills' first delivery, only to be just beaten by the movement. He didn't last too long anyway, swinging a short ball to short fine leg to walk back for 12.
Upul Tharanga had been cleaned up on the first delivery of the match against India by a beauty from Praveen Kumar which nipped away to take offstump. Tharanga would have collected an unwanted second golden duck in a row when he nearly nicked Kyle Mills' first delivery, only to be just beaten by the movement. He didn't last too long anyway, swinging a short ball to short fine leg to walk back for 12.
Dilshan's fast start
Usually in one-dayers, teams look to smash some quick runs during the initial Powerplay overs, but that hasn't generally been the case so far in the tri-series, with the top-order batting being generally more cagey than carefree. Tillakaratne Dilshan put an end to that trend: a violent flat-bat crack down the ground for four got him going in the third, backed up by two more boundaries in the next. Those were preludes to the fireworks in the fifth over when Dilshan pinged the midwicket, square leg, point and cover boundaries for four consecutive fours.
Usually in one-dayers, teams look to smash some quick runs during the initial Powerplay overs, but that hasn't generally been the case so far in the tri-series, with the top-order batting being generally more cagey than carefree. Tillakaratne Dilshan put an end to that trend: a violent flat-bat crack down the ground for four got him going in the third, backed up by two more boundaries in the next. Those were preludes to the fireworks in the fifth over when Dilshan pinged the midwicket, square leg, point and cover boundaries for four consecutive fours.
Silva's confident beginning
With plenty of competition for middle-order spots in Sri Lanka, it was a crucial innings on Friday for Chamara Silva, walking out for his first match of the tournament. Silva showed no signs of nerves on his first audition for a World Cup berth, getting off the mark with a wonderfully timed punch past the bowler for four. He ended unbeaten on a fluent 41, which should be enough to earn him more time to press his case for next year's showpiece tournament. He has previous experience doing this, hitting form at the right time four years ago to become a regular for the Caribbean World Cup in 2007.
With plenty of competition for middle-order spots in Sri Lanka, it was a crucial innings on Friday for Chamara Silva, walking out for his first match of the tournament. Silva showed no signs of nerves on his first audition for a World Cup berth, getting off the mark with a wonderfully timed punch past the bowler for four. He ended unbeaten on a fluent 41, which should be enough to earn him more time to press his case for next year's showpiece tournament. He has previous experience doing this, hitting form at the right time four years ago to become a regular for the Caribbean World Cup in 2007.
Camera tricks
With rain dampening the mood for the second day in a row at the Dambulla stadium, there was not much for the fans to cheer about. During a brief dry spell, a playful cameraman distorted images so that people's heads were outrageously large and their legs spindly. Those images on the giant screen were the only things the few faithful who stuck around had to chuckle about, before another shower washed out the match.
With rain dampening the mood for the second day in a row at the Dambulla stadium, there was not much for the fans to cheer about. During a brief dry spell, a playful cameraman distorted images so that people's heads were outrageously large and their legs spindly. Those images on the giant screen were the only things the few faithful who stuck around had to chuckle about, before another shower washed out the match.
Siddarth Ravindran is a sub-editor at Cricinfo