A cat-astrophe for Graeme Smith
ESPNcricinfo presents the Plays of the Day from the third ODI between South Africa and Australia, in Durban
Firdose Moonda at Kingsmead
28-Oct-2011
JP Duminy's two wickets both came with the first balls of spells • AFP
Punishment of the day
A soft-spoken and gentle man, Hashim Amla is not the type to inflict harm on anyone but, after a lean patch with the bat, he found form in violent fashion. Patrick Cummins got a second lesson in the hardships of international cricket - he was pasted in the second ODI in Port Elizabeth - when he came on to open the bowling from the Umgeni River end. Amla stroked the first ball through the covers and played an almost identical shot off the second. Cummins recovered with a shorter ball that Amla left alone but when he went short again, Amla cut ruthlessly. To end a forgetful opening over, Cummins was flicked through midwicket when he strayed onto the pads and with that Amla was among the runs again.
A soft-spoken and gentle man, Hashim Amla is not the type to inflict harm on anyone but, after a lean patch with the bat, he found form in violent fashion. Patrick Cummins got a second lesson in the hardships of international cricket - he was pasted in the second ODI in Port Elizabeth - when he came on to open the bowling from the Umgeni River end. Amla stroked the first ball through the covers and played an almost identical shot off the second. Cummins recovered with a shorter ball that Amla left alone but when he went short again, Amla cut ruthlessly. To end a forgetful opening over, Cummins was flicked through midwicket when he strayed onto the pads and with that Amla was among the runs again.
Cat-astrophe of the day
Graeme Smith needed as little distraction as possible as he tried to bat his way back into South African fans' hearts. After he had stuttered to 18 off 30 balls, and watched Amla rolling along at one end, his innings was interrupted by a cat that had wandered onto the Kingsmead field and dashed around the boundary looking for a way to get off the playing surface. It tried to jump over the advertising boards but its legs were not long enough to help it over. When the cat's fourth attempt to dive over failed, Michael Hussey trotted over to lend it a hand but it scurried along and crept out of sight. Smith was clearly distracted and two balls later miscued a drive that fell just short of Hussey at mid-on. He was out sweeping three balls later.
Graeme Smith needed as little distraction as possible as he tried to bat his way back into South African fans' hearts. After he had stuttered to 18 off 30 balls, and watched Amla rolling along at one end, his innings was interrupted by a cat that had wandered onto the Kingsmead field and dashed around the boundary looking for a way to get off the playing surface. It tried to jump over the advertising boards but its legs were not long enough to help it over. When the cat's fourth attempt to dive over failed, Michael Hussey trotted over to lend it a hand but it scurried along and crept out of sight. Smith was clearly distracted and two balls later miscued a drive that fell just short of Hussey at mid-on. He was out sweeping three balls later.
Slower ball of the day
Australia's change of pace was the hallmark of their bowling effort as they made the Kingsmead pitch look a far more difficult surface to bat on than it actually was. Cummins has already shown great maturity in his use of the slower ball and provided an example of that with the delivery that dismissed Faf du Plessis. du Plessis has been under pressure to perform, and after breaking South Africa's boundary drought with back-to-back fours tried to thread one through the off-side but played too early. The ball came through at a little more than 105kph and after it made contact with du Plessis' bat it went swirling into the hands of the deep square leg fielder.
Australia's change of pace was the hallmark of their bowling effort as they made the Kingsmead pitch look a far more difficult surface to bat on than it actually was. Cummins has already shown great maturity in his use of the slower ball and provided an example of that with the delivery that dismissed Faf du Plessis. du Plessis has been under pressure to perform, and after breaking South Africa's boundary drought with back-to-back fours tried to thread one through the off-side but played too early. The ball came through at a little more than 105kph and after it made contact with du Plessis' bat it went swirling into the hands of the deep square leg fielder.
Straight drive of the day
Shane Watson executed two, perfect straight drives off Lonwabo Tsotosobe in the fifth over but saved the best one for Morne Morkel. Three balls after Watson had an lbw decision overturned, he rubbed salt into Morkel's wound, dispatching him with disdain. It was full and on off stump and Watson simply went forward, placed his bat on ball and laced it back past the bowler.
Shane Watson executed two, perfect straight drives off Lonwabo Tsotosobe in the fifth over but saved the best one for Morne Morkel. Three balls after Watson had an lbw decision overturned, he rubbed salt into Morkel's wound, dispatching him with disdain. It was full and on off stump and Watson simply went forward, placed his bat on ball and laced it back past the bowler.
Golden arm of the day
JP Duminy's struggles with the bat made the Kingsmead pitch look like more of a snake-pit than anyone thought it was, but when he came on to bowl he showed the Australia batsmen that things were more tricky than they thought. His first ball, a full delivery from around the stumps, had Michael Clarke attempting the drive and found its way onto the stumps, via Clarke's inside edge. When Duminy returned after the drinks break, he bowled Shaun Marsh with an arm ball that was aimed straight at middle and struck it.
JP Duminy's struggles with the bat made the Kingsmead pitch look like more of a snake-pit than anyone thought it was, but when he came on to bowl he showed the Australia batsmen that things were more tricky than they thought. His first ball, a full delivery from around the stumps, had Michael Clarke attempting the drive and found its way onto the stumps, via Clarke's inside edge. When Duminy returned after the drinks break, he bowled Shaun Marsh with an arm ball that was aimed straight at middle and struck it.
Firdose Moonda is ESPNcricinfo's South Africa correspondent