False starts and Herath's bravery
Plays of the day from the fifth day of the second Test between Sri Lanka and West Indies in Colombo
Andrew Fernando in Colombo
27-Nov-2010
Rangana Herath proved perseverance pays by continuing to toss the ball up to Dwayne Bravo and getting him stumped • AFP
The false start of the day
After sitting around for four-and-a-half sessions while the weather made play impossible, the players finally made their way onto the field at 1pm on the fifth day. The crowd was buzzing with anticipation, Sri Lanka had had their huddle, the batsmen had made their way to the middle and Nuwan Kulasekara had even marked out his run up, when the heavens opened up again. Asad Rauf looked skywards and called for the covers despondently. It seemed the cruelest of interruptions, just as we'd been so close to play after a lengthy delay. Thankfully the covers barely had time to come on before the weather abated, and the cricket was back on within five minutes.
After sitting around for four-and-a-half sessions while the weather made play impossible, the players finally made their way onto the field at 1pm on the fifth day. The crowd was buzzing with anticipation, Sri Lanka had had their huddle, the batsmen had made their way to the middle and Nuwan Kulasekara had even marked out his run up, when the heavens opened up again. Asad Rauf looked skywards and called for the covers despondently. It seemed the cruelest of interruptions, just as we'd been so close to play after a lengthy delay. Thankfully the covers barely had time to come on before the weather abated, and the cricket was back on within five minutes.
The referral of the day
Richard Kettleborough had been nigh unimpeachable so far throughout the tour. Referrals were made from both sides throughout the two Tests, looking to overturn his decisions, but they had all come to no avail. So when Carlton Baugh hastily reviewed Kettleborough's decision to give him out lbw, many perhaps had their doubts as to the wisdom of his call. But incredibly, given Kettleborough's record, the ball had pitched outside leg stump and the decision was overturned.
Richard Kettleborough had been nigh unimpeachable so far throughout the tour. Referrals were made from both sides throughout the two Tests, looking to overturn his decisions, but they had all come to no avail. So when Carlton Baugh hastily reviewed Kettleborough's decision to give him out lbw, many perhaps had their doubts as to the wisdom of his call. But incredibly, given Kettleborough's record, the ball had pitched outside leg stump and the decision was overturned.
The pep talk of the day
Having been hit for boundaries by the overnight West Indies pair, debutant Suranga Lakmal was perhaps a little low on confidence in his first spell of the day. Kumar Sangakkara though, wasn't going to give up on his bowler. As the field changed around at the end of one of Lakmal's overs, Sangakkara walked over to the bowler, put his arm around him and gave Lakmal some advice. Next over with the leg-trap set, Lakmal had Darren Sammy caught at square leg.
Having been hit for boundaries by the overnight West Indies pair, debutant Suranga Lakmal was perhaps a little low on confidence in his first spell of the day. Kumar Sangakkara though, wasn't going to give up on his bowler. As the field changed around at the end of one of Lakmal's overs, Sangakkara walked over to the bowler, put his arm around him and gave Lakmal some advice. Next over with the leg-trap set, Lakmal had Darren Sammy caught at square leg.
The brave bowling of the day
It's understandable that finger spinners tend to bowl quicker and flatter after being hit for a couple of boundaries. So Rangana Herath might have been forgiven for adopting a similar ploy to Dwayne Bravo after being hammered for a four and a six in his first over of the afternoon. But Herath continued to boldly toss it up, and in the next over, had Bravo stumped as he attempted to hit the bowler for another boundary.
It's understandable that finger spinners tend to bowl quicker and flatter after being hit for a couple of boundaries. So Rangana Herath might have been forgiven for adopting a similar ploy to Dwayne Bravo after being hammered for a four and a six in his first over of the afternoon. But Herath continued to boldly toss it up, and in the next over, had Bravo stumped as he attempted to hit the bowler for another boundary.
The appeal of the day
Tillakaratne Dilshan was desperate for wickets on the last evening, using up both of Sri Lanka's reviews within minutes of each other. His most memorable appeal however, was when he struck Chris Gayle on the pad and turned to ask Richard Kettleborough the question. Dilshan's loud "owww" - an appeal not supported by any of his team-mates, sounded more like the yelp a poodle might give if rudely awakened by a kick to the guts. Smiles all around the field and many more in the stands as well.
Tillakaratne Dilshan was desperate for wickets on the last evening, using up both of Sri Lanka's reviews within minutes of each other. His most memorable appeal however, was when he struck Chris Gayle on the pad and turned to ask Richard Kettleborough the question. Dilshan's loud "owww" - an appeal not supported by any of his team-mates, sounded more like the yelp a poodle might give if rudely awakened by a kick to the guts. Smiles all around the field and many more in the stands as well.
Andrew Fernando writes for The Pigeon and blogs here