Gayle turns umpire
Plays of the day from the fifth day of the first Test between Sri Lanka and West Indies in Galle
Andrew Fernando in Galle
18-Nov-2010
Not content with making 333, Chris Gayle decided to play umpire in Galle on the final day • AFP
Bulls-eye of the day
It's not easy being the captain of West Indies. Just ask Darren Sammy. When Tharanga Paranavitana pushed one to Adrian Barath at point and took off for a single, there was a run-out opportunity at the wicketkeeper's end. Barath swooped in, picked up cleanly, took aim, and let fly, straight in the thigh of his new captain Darren Sammy. The fielders laughed it off, but it was Sammy who was left bruised and battered. Add to that, no runs or wickets for Sammy in this Test. Thankfully West Indies managed a draw.
It's not easy being the captain of West Indies. Just ask Darren Sammy. When Tharanga Paranavitana pushed one to Adrian Barath at point and took off for a single, there was a run-out opportunity at the wicketkeeper's end. Barath swooped in, picked up cleanly, took aim, and let fly, straight in the thigh of his new captain Darren Sammy. The fielders laughed it off, but it was Sammy who was left bruised and battered. Add to that, no runs or wickets for Sammy in this Test. Thankfully West Indies managed a draw.
Umpiring decision of the day
Not content with having become the fourth Test batsman to score two triple-tons, Chris Gayle tried his hand at umpiring on the fifth day. When umpire Steve Davis was unmoved after Dwayne Bravo's first delivery flew wide of the batsman, Chris Gayle, at second slip, stretched out his hands to indicate to everyone watching that his teammate's delivery deserved to be called a wide.
Not content with having become the fourth Test batsman to score two triple-tons, Chris Gayle tried his hand at umpiring on the fifth day. When umpire Steve Davis was unmoved after Dwayne Bravo's first delivery flew wide of the batsman, Chris Gayle, at second slip, stretched out his hands to indicate to everyone watching that his teammate's delivery deserved to be called a wide.
Déjà vu of the day
When Thilan Samaraweera was run out yesterday, after an Angelo Mathews drive took Dwayne Bravo's boot on its way to the stumps, the batsman was clearly dejected. But he could have been out in the same manner today when Mahela Jayawardene drove the same bowler down the ground, missing the stumps by mere centimeters. This time though, Samaraweera hadn't gone for a walk, and had the presence of mind to try to slide his back in, even if he might have been just short anyway.
When Thilan Samaraweera was run out yesterday, after an Angelo Mathews drive took Dwayne Bravo's boot on its way to the stumps, the batsman was clearly dejected. But he could have been out in the same manner today when Mahela Jayawardene drove the same bowler down the ground, missing the stumps by mere centimeters. This time though, Samaraweera hadn't gone for a walk, and had the presence of mind to try to slide his back in, even if he might have been just short anyway.
Costly miss of the day
West Indies had Sri Lanka on the ropes at 110 for two and would have had them in even more hot water had they held their chances. With the score on 112, Shane Shillingford delivery took Tharanga Paranavitana's edge and flew to the right of Darren Sammy at slip. The West Indies captain got his hands to it, but didn't hold on, and Paranavitana went on to score 95 and take his team to safety.
West Indies had Sri Lanka on the ropes at 110 for two and would have had them in even more hot water had they held their chances. With the score on 112, Shane Shillingford delivery took Tharanga Paranavitana's edge and flew to the right of Darren Sammy at slip. The West Indies captain got his hands to it, but didn't hold on, and Paranavitana went on to score 95 and take his team to safety.
Andrew Fernando writes for The Pigeon and blogs here