Shane Watson does a bat check
Plays of the day from the Champions League match between Rajasthan Royals and Lions in Jaipur
Devashish Fuloria
25-Sep-2013
Anything wrong with that bat? Nah • BCCI
The bat
Off the last ball of the 12th over, Shane Watson attempted his trademark hoick over long-on off a length delivery, but the low bounce meant that the ball hit the inside half of the bat. Watson immediately looked at his blade to check if there was any damage. But all doubts on the state of the bat were dispensed with as he muscled two sixes and a four in his next four deliveries.
Off the last ball of the 12th over, Shane Watson attempted his trademark hoick over long-on off a length delivery, but the low bounce meant that the ball hit the inside half of the bat. Watson immediately looked at his blade to check if there was any damage. But all doubts on the state of the bat were dispensed with as he muscled two sixes and a four in his next four deliveries.
The luck
Sanju Samson had scored a half-century in Royals' win against Mumbai Indians, an innings that was replete with unconvincing shots and numerous edges. That was a good day. Samson brought the same form to this match but only brought half the luck. In his brief stay, he edged one through gully, then edged one to first slip to be dropped by Alviro Petersen, and ultimately ran out of luck, edging an angled delivery from Lonwabo Tsotsobe to the wicketkeeper.
Sanju Samson had scored a half-century in Royals' win against Mumbai Indians, an innings that was replete with unconvincing shots and numerous edges. That was a good day. Samson brought the same form to this match but only brought half the luck. In his brief stay, he edged one through gully, then edged one to first slip to be dropped by Alviro Petersen, and ultimately ran out of luck, edging an angled delivery from Lonwabo Tsotsobe to the wicketkeeper.
The comeback
Sohail Tanvir was the leading wicket-taker in the first season of the IPL when he was part of the title-winning Rajasthan Royals squad and the way he bowled his first three overs today, it felt like he had never left Jaipur. He mixed up the lengths, varied pace, changed angles and kept the Royals batsmen guessing. His last over though undid his good work. Brad Hodge slogged the second and third deliveries to the boundary, then went one better as he smashed two sixes in the remaining three balls, ruining Tanvir's figures to 4-0-36-1.
Sohail Tanvir was the leading wicket-taker in the first season of the IPL when he was part of the title-winning Rajasthan Royals squad and the way he bowled his first three overs today, it felt like he had never left Jaipur. He mixed up the lengths, varied pace, changed angles and kept the Royals batsmen guessing. His last over though undid his good work. Brad Hodge slogged the second and third deliveries to the boundary, then went one better as he smashed two sixes in the remaining three balls, ruining Tanvir's figures to 4-0-36-1.
The drop
Rahul Dravid may have taken more catches than anyone in his Test career, but in his last season of active cricket, that is one area in which he has struggled to maintain standards. He took a simple chance at mid-on when Rassie van der Dussen mistimed a slog, but made a mess of the second that came his way. He had stationed himself at long-on and when Hardus Viljoen chipped one to his right, he ran a few paces to his right, settled into a good position, but dropped the dolly.
Rahul Dravid may have taken more catches than anyone in his Test career, but in his last season of active cricket, that is one area in which he has struggled to maintain standards. He took a simple chance at mid-on when Rassie van der Dussen mistimed a slog, but made a mess of the second that came his way. He had stationed himself at long-on and when Hardus Viljoen chipped one to his right, he ran a few paces to his right, settled into a good position, but dropped the dolly.
Devashish Fuloria is a sub-editor at ESPNcricinfo