Sehwag is hit, AB can't hear a thing
Plays of the day from the IPL match between Delhi Daredevils and Royal Challengers Bangalore
Sidharth Monga
10-May-2013
'If I have a helmet, may as well use it' • BCCI
The look
In the second over of the game, Chris Gayle defended one off the back foot, off the bowling of Irfan Pathan. The powerful forearms, the heavy bat, the good timing sent the ball scurrying past mid-on for four. It was almost unreal. Irfan was bemused, and had a smile when he looked at Gayle that suggested both disbelief and grudging acknowledgement at the same time.
In the second over of the game, Chris Gayle defended one off the back foot, off the bowling of Irfan Pathan. The powerful forearms, the heavy bat, the good timing sent the ball scurrying past mid-on for four. It was almost unreal. Irfan was bemused, and had a smile when he looked at Gayle that suggested both disbelief and grudging acknowledgement at the same time.
Next ball, Irfan had Gayle playing on, and reacted with ecstasy.
The reprieves
Virat Kohli had yet to score a run when he got a jaffa from Morne Morkel. It was short of a length, on off, held its line against the angle, bounced too, took the edge, and went through to the keeper. Only that he overstepped by a measly inch. For a change, though, no replays were required to call this one.
Virat Kohli had yet to score a run when he got a jaffa from Morne Morkel. It was short of a length, on off, held its line against the angle, bounced too, took the edge, and went through to the keeper. Only that he overstepped by a measly inch. For a change, though, no replays were required to call this one.
Soon Kohli would pull one to the right of Virender Sehwag, and still wouldn't get out. Sehwag dropped him on 14. With every boundary in his onslaught, Kohli made Sehwag and Morkel regret their lapses.
The no-shot
The last four overs of the Royal Challengers Bangalore innings featured some crazy hitting, cute paddles, reverse shots… and an offering of the pad. In the 19th over. By AB de Villiers. It just so happened that de Villiers shuffled across to play the ramp, then saw a full ball going down leg, and at the last moment grew some concern for his exposed leg stump and tried to cover it with his foot. He was hit on the boot, and wasn't offering a stroke. You have now officially seen it all.
The last four overs of the Royal Challengers Bangalore innings featured some crazy hitting, cute paddles, reverse shots… and an offering of the pad. In the 19th over. By AB de Villiers. It just so happened that de Villiers shuffled across to play the ramp, then saw a full ball going down leg, and at the last moment grew some concern for his exposed leg stump and tried to cover it with his foot. He was hit on the boot, and wasn't offering a stroke. You have now officially seen it all.
The hits
At the best of the times, Virender Sehwag has let the helmet earn its cost when accurate bouncers are bowled at him. And these are not the best of times. So when bounced on a slow Delhi pitch by Ravi Rampaul, Sehwag did the same: take the eyes off, and duck into it. The first one hit him on the shoulder, and the second got him right in the head. To his credit, Sehwag maintained his humour. During the over break, when the physio came into make sure he hadn't been hit badly, Sehwag feigned collapsing.
At the best of the times, Virender Sehwag has let the helmet earn its cost when accurate bouncers are bowled at him. And these are not the best of times. So when bounced on a slow Delhi pitch by Ravi Rampaul, Sehwag did the same: take the eyes off, and duck into it. The first one hit him on the shoulder, and the second got him right in the head. To his credit, Sehwag maintained his humour. During the over break, when the physio came into make sure he hadn't been hit badly, Sehwag feigned collapsing.
The non-appeal
You would think at the higher levels of cricket the vociferousness of the appeal wouldn't make much of a difference to a decision, but today it might just have. Off R Vinay Kumar's first ball, Unmukt Chand hit the leather off the ball, a nick that was heard around the world through the stump mic, but two people didn't hear it. One was AB de Villiers, the wicketkeeper. He didn't appeal at all, and was in the process of sending the ball back to the bowler when he saw Vinay go for a huge appeal.
You would think at the higher levels of cricket the vociferousness of the appeal wouldn't make much of a difference to a decision, but today it might just have. Off R Vinay Kumar's first ball, Unmukt Chand hit the leather off the ball, a nick that was heard around the world through the stump mic, but two people didn't hear it. One was AB de Villiers, the wicketkeeper. He didn't appeal at all, and was in the process of sending the ball back to the bowler when he saw Vinay go for a huge appeal.
The keeper's reaction might have played a part in the umpire not raising his finger. Chand deserves some body-language points for not giving away a hint of guilt.
Sidharth Monga is an assistant editor at ESPNcricinfo